DAP’s designated candidate for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election received a warm welcome this morning during her first walkabout to meet residents of the town located in the Hulu Selangor district.
However, one person also seized the opportunity to complain to Pang Sock Tao about the rising cost of living and to criticise her party.
She started her walkabout with about 20 Pakatan Harapan campaigners at around 7.30am to visit two Chinese-majority areas in Kuala Kubu Baharu - Kampung Chuang Rasa and Kampung Air Panas.
During last year’s state election, the incumbent Lee Kee Hiong received overwhelming support in these two polling stations.
Pang first visited Keng Lim Kopitiam in Kampung Chuang Rasa to introduce herself to the locals and joined them for breakfast. She was accompanied by Teratai assemblyperson Yew Jia Haur and Balakong assemblyperson Ong Chun Wei.
They could be seen being warmly welcomed by the public, with some asking to take pictures with her.
Most ethnic Chinese in Kuala Kubu Baharu are of Hakka heritage, so some who were having breakfast spoke to her enthusiastically in the Hakka dialect. Pang responded with a smile saying, “I am Hakka, but my Hakka is not too fluent.”
Yew then joined the conversation in fluent Hakka.
After breakfast, the team continued their walkabout to introduce Pang to the public. Many voters complimented her in Hakka, calling her “beautiful lady”. One aunty even joked, “Beautiful lady, are you married yet?”
Meanwhile, a voter asked if Pang was the assistant to Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming - which she is - and added that “Nga’s work is not bad”.
Another voter exclaimed, “My family has eight votes... (We) will definitely support you.”
Cost of living concerns
However, one man in Kampung Chuang Rasa, claiming to be a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, approached the media following Pang’s entourage to voice his discontent.
The man, identified by his surname Lim, appeared agitated and even seized an 8TV camera crew’s microphone to speak.
“Now, eating wonton noodles costs RM8.50, and coffee RM2.50. I earn RM30 a day, how can I afford this? How can I live?” he said.
He also suggested that DAP let Umno contest in Kuala Kubu Baharu to challenge the Perikatan Nasional coalition.
He also noted that after Lee was elected last year, she was nowhere to be seen.
Only Hulu Selangor Municipal Council councillor Jessie Yong Chan Hee stopped to listen to Lim’s complaints, while Pang and the rest of her team moved on to meet other locals.
‘A team that can do better’
Speaking to the media later, Pang acknowledged the impact of the rising cost of living on the people but emphasised that the by-election should focus on choosing a state assemblyperson who can spur development in Kuala Kubu Baharu.
She also defended and praised the late Lee’s contributions, saying, “Her performance is evident to all, and of course, this includes the behind-the-scenes team that has supported her for many years in serving the community.
“There will definitely be differing opinions, but regardless, we need a team that can do better.”
Lee passed away on March 21, triggering the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election. Nominations will be held on Saturday, while polling falls on May 11.
Kuala Kubu Baharu is a mixed state constituency comprising 48.42 percent Malay voters, 34.42 percent Chinese voters, 14.69 percent Indian voters, and 2.48 percent others. - Mkini
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