The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- GE13: BN’s Roland Gan gets a surprise help from former Portuguese Settlement Regidor Michael Young
- GE13: Encouraging support for Gelang Patah’s Abdul Ghani
- GE13: Wrong to contest against a fellow DAP candidate, says Ong
| GE13: BN’s Roland Gan gets a surprise help from former Portuguese Settlement Regidor Michael Young Posted: 24 Apr 2013 01:35 AM PDT MALACCA: Former Portuguese Settlement Regidor Michael Young is back to his homeland from Perth, Australia, all-agog to lend support to Barisan Nasional candidate for Banda Hilir constituency, Ronald Gan. Young who served as Regidor, for almost two decades, from 1974 to 1992 decided to campaign for Gan whom he described as a vibrant and hardworking candidate. The 76-year-old had left for Perth to stay with his three children who had migrated to Australia some 10 years ago and insisted that he must be present here during the GE13 to lend support to Gan. "I am keeping abreast with the developments here although being away as this is my hometown and I'm still an electorate here," he said when met at the Portuguese Settlement's Barsian Nasional operation hub. Young said he have read about Gan's service to the Banda Hilir folks despite not being a lawmaker in the constituency. "I am also a close friend to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam as both of us been colleagues in the then LLN (now Tenaga Nasional) and we used hang out often before he (Mohd Ali) became active in politics," he said. The grandfather of seven also gave Gan an insight of the political scenario of Malacca during his days as Regidor. Young said he admired Mohd Ali for his liberal approach and easy going disposition since he helmed the state as Chief Minister. "Years ago, Opposition leaders spread rumours that there would be no Cross signs or statutes at churches when Mohd Ali first became the Chief Minister in 1999. "They said Mohd Ali is Islamist and all such talks turned to be mere lies. He (Mohd Ali) was among the rare Muslim leaders who freely enters churches, temples and Gudwaras without any reservations until today," he said. He cited a recent funeral of three accident victims which was held simultaneously at a church here where Mohd Ali paid his last respect by entering the place of worship and consoling the victims' distraught family members. Young also took the opportunity to explain to Gan on the feedbacks and political landscape at the Banda Hilir constituency which was being held by DAP assemblyman Tey Kok Kiew. "My son, the Lord will surely bless you for all the efforts and dedication you have put in Banda Hilir for all this year despite the discouragement by many who would have told you that it hard to wrest the constituency. "Your sincerity in serving the people here has opened the eyes of many who have come to realise that they have never have seen their elected representative rendering such service since 2008," he said. Young also advised Gan to be extra cautious against opportunists who would pretend to support Barisan in bid to gain from the assistance rendered to electorates and last minute would turn into saboteurs. "You are still young and probably easily trust anyone who pledges to support you, but I felt that I must divulge to you this fact that earlier candidates were hoodwinked by this opportunists," he added. |
| GE13: Encouraging support for Gelang Patah’s Abdul Ghani Posted: 24 Apr 2013 01:35 AM PDT JOHOR BARU: A large number of people turned up at the Sri Mariamman Temple in Taman Impian Emas to catch a glimpse of Barisan Nasional's candidate for Gelang Patah, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman. Temple chairman P. Damotharan said that it was a very good crowd as usually they have about 200 people during Friday prayers. "Ghani was accompanied by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, Gelang Patah MCA chief Jason Teoh and State MIC chief Datuk K.S Balakrishnan," he said. Damotharan said it was a pleasant surprise to see Ghani in person who came to engage with the Indian community and also introduce himself as the candidate there. He added that the community knows the services Ghani has done during his tenure as Mentri Besar for Tamil schools, temples and welfare of Indians in the state. Damotharan said the temple, which is about 80 years old, was first set up in a rubber plantation called New Skudai Estate. He added that Ghani spent about 45-minutes mingling with the people. Later during the event, Dr Chua announced an allocation of RM50,000 for the temple. About 120 people comprising students, single mothers and old folks received aid during the event. |
| GE13: Wrong to contest against a fellow DAP candidate, says Ong Posted: 24 Apr 2013 01:35 AM PDT KULAIJAYA: A state DAP leader has urged a former DAP man who is contesting as an independent in Mengkibol to pull out of the race. Johor vice chairman Ong Kow Meng said although he understood why Ng Lam Hua decided to contest, resulting in a three-cornered fight in the state seat, it was not a right thing to do. "I understand that he feels humiliated for not being picked as candidate to defend the seat. But contesting against a DAP candidate is wrong. I hope he will pull out of the race and throw his support for our candidate Tan Hong Ping," he said adding that Ng's action could cost DAP the seat as it would split the votes. DAP through Ng won the seat with a thin margin in the 2008 general election. Ong who was also not picked to be DAP candidate to defend his Senai seat said, he also initially felt the same as Ng, but later understood the party's decision in doing so. The decision to drop the incumbents and to field new faces is part of the party's rejuvenation process to attract younger talents, he said. Apart from Ong and Ng, the other incumbent dropped was Gwee Tong Hiang, the former Bentayan assemblyman. Ong, who has been with DAP for 20 years also said he would help campaign for Kulai candidate Teo Nie Ching and Senai candidate Wong Shu Qi. Ong added that this was the first time two women candidates were being fielded in the Kulai parliament which was a Barisan Nasional's stronghold since independence. "I managed to dent it by winning a seat the parliamentary constituency in 2008. Let us hope we can create a new record by winning the seat through Teo, he said. Teo and Wong, who were both present at the press conference, thanked Ong for his support and hoped that he would continue to offer his advice and guidance. Ng meanwhile has hit at DAP leadership, saying they should practice what they preach. He said the ubah (change) tagline, used by the party in its campaign to encourage people to change the government, should be heeded by the party leaders who have become too big headed after winning many seats in 2008. "If they do not change, they will punished by the people come May 5. DAP leaderships need to look at other parties that have gone through transformation process to stay on top of the game," he said. "I am also very disappointed with party's decision to field mostly outsiders as candidates in Johor for this election," he said. |
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