Newbies woo folk at jetties and markets

IN view of the big number of senior citizens in the Pengkalan Kota constituency, Pakatan Harapan’s candidate Wong Yuee Harng wants to make the place safe for them.

“If elected, I will upgrade the pavements and roads in Pengkalan Kota as well as create more pocket parks so senior citizens have a place to hang out with their friends and family members.

“Senior citizens should be able to walk, exercise and shop at the markets and malls with no worries about their safety,” he said during a walkabout with his service team along the clan jetties in Weld Quay, Penang.

Syn Tze (left) meeting a shopkeeper at the Apollo market in Butterworth. She attended to a pothole complaint and got it patched up within two hours.

Wong, 35, said that during his eight years as a councillor in then Penang municipal council and later Penang Island City Council, he helped in the upgrade of 74km of roads, 14km of pavements and 6km of drainage.

He also gave an assurance that youths in the constituency would not be left out.

“I will hold a townhall meeting to listen to what they want and need. They are our future.

“Also, since the constituency is in a Unesco world heritage area, I will work closely with George Town World Heritage Incorporated to make the historical clan jetties more attractive to tourists.

Tourists at Chew Jetty, George Town. — Filepic

“This will help improve the income of the traders there,” he said.

The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry has given RM55mil to Penang and Melaka for the preservation and management of their Unesco world heritage sites.

Under Budget 2023, the states will get RM25mil each, with Melaka getting an additional RM5mil for its campaign to promote Visit Melaka 2024.

“I pledge to do my best for my constituents,” said the first-time candidate who is an electrical and electronics engineering graduate.

A hawker at a clan jetty, who wanted to be known only as Lam, 55, said he was glad that Wong dropped by his stall.

“He reminds me of my own son, and I will likely vote for him as I feel the Pakatan Harapan state government has been doing a good job.

“The state needs new blood instead of recycling old candidates.

Visitors entering the Apollo morning market. — Filepic

“I am glad we have more new and capable candidates for this state election,” he said.

Wong, who is fluent in Mandarin, Hokkien, Bahasa Melayu and English, will face Perikatan Nasional’s S. Suthakaran, 56, from Gerakan on polling day on Aug 12.

Meanwhile, Pakatan’s Sungai Puyu candidate Phee Syn Tze, 38, brought smiles to the faces of customers and traders at the Apollo wet market on Jalan Raja Uda in Butterworth, when she got potholes there patched up within two hours.

Syn Tze, daughter of incumbent Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Boon Poh, was informed of the problem during her walkabout at the market on Sunday and quickly got the help needed.

A trader who declined to be named, said rainwater would flow from the main road into the market and pool inside the potholes near the entrance.

“Many elderly customers have fallen down because of the potholes that existed for years.”

Another trader said the matter had been highlighted to the authorities but there was no word on a long-term solution yet.

Boon Poh said Seberang Prai City Council was aware of the issue and currently awaiting allocation to upgrade the drainage system in the area.

“The edge of the main road slopes down into the market, so a proper upgrading of the drainage will be needed,” he said, adding that the market received a major makeover six years ago.

Syn Tze will be facing Teoh Chin Siang from Perikatan Nasional.

Of the 40 state seats in Penang, 29 are straight fights, seven are three-cornered, and four are four-cornered fights.

Penang DAP is fielding seven new candidates for this state election.