Intense battle brewing in Bagan

BUTTERWORTH - Four newcomers fielded by Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Bagan parliamentary seat and three state seats under the DAP stronghold are widely expected to give a tough fight for the opposition party to retain the seats in this crucial May 5 general election.

Intense battle is on the cards as the carefully picked BN aspirants have been receiving overwhelming support from local residents, the majority of whom are Chinese.

The BN contestants are familiar faces to the constituents. The candidate for the Bagan parliamentary seat, one time known as Mata Kuching, is MCA's David Chua Teik Siang (MCA), who has been receiving solid support from the local communities. The Bagan MCA Division youth chief has been proactive in settling people's woes promptly.

MCA's Sum Yoo Keong, 63, has been nominated for the Sungai Puyu state seat, Tan Chuan Hong, 46, also from MCA, for Bagan Jermal, and MIC's M. Karuppanan, 48, for Bagan Dalam.

Residents in Bagan are said to be unhappy in the last five years after the Opposition took control of the Chinese-majority constituency.

"The DAP-led state government has failed to honour the promises made in the 2008 general election manifesto particularly to scrap toll collection at Sungai Nyior.

The locals, who are still paying 50 sen toll each time they pass the toll gate, are frustrated by the DAP's unfulfilled promise over the last five years. Bagan has been the DAP's stronghold in Penang since 1986. The seat was held by former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik between 1974 and 1986 before he moved to Labis in Johor.

Chua said Bagan residents are unhappy with the incumbents' services over the last five years. Irked by the dismal performance, the people staged a peaceful protest against the DAP-led state government, which failed to honour the 2008 election promises.

Penang MCA chief Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said she believed the four new faces would be "game-changers" in ensuring a better future for the constituents.

"The newcomers have proven to be able local leaders who can deliver the best for the people in Bagan.

"The BN is entering the fray with the hope of wresting Bagan this time. Our well-oiled election machinery is working round-the-clock to confidently face the Opposition's onslaught.

"I'm more confident with the BN's winning chances now even though I'm not contesting in this election.

"I will contribute my bit through my political experience over the years to the newcomers to face the political battle with conviction in this crucial election.

"We must groom the newcomers to take up bigger things in the years ahead as the nation forges ahead to attain developed nation status," added the Tourism Minister, who is also an MCA vice-president, after visiting the Bagan MCA Division's BN election operations room.

– Bernama