State polls: Incumbent rep has big tourist hotspot plans for Sekinchan

KLANG: One of the first things that greets anyone entering Sekinchan is a big billboard of the constituency’s incumbent assemblyman Ng Suee Lim welcoming visitors to the town.

Pakatan Harapan’s Ng, who has been Sekinchan’s assemblyman for the last four terms, was widely credited to have developed the constituency throughout his tenure as its elected representative.

One of the best compliments and testimony for a job well done comes from his nemesis, Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos, who recently said that Sekinchan had indeed flourished under Ng.

“I was born in Sekinchan and have been here all through.

“I can vouch that Sekinchan has developed (greatly) under YB Ng Suee Lim,” Jamal had said at an event last month.

This was indeed a far cry from Jamal’s threat in 2017 to finish Ng off politically in the 2018 general election.

Ng too had many plans for the constituency if he won the election and retained his seat.

“I have five big agendas for the next five years and the first one is to enhance tourism in Sekinchan (through) interesting tour packages.

“There will be collaboration with Kuala Selangor to make the entire area into a tourist destination,” said Ng.

His other plans included seeing through the Sekinchan Fish Landing Complex under the Sabak Bernam Development Area (Sabda), which is part of the First Selangor Plan.

This would make it easier for the constituency’s fishermen to dock their boats owing to current space constraints, said Ng.

Some of his other plans include the installation of an additional sluice gate to prevent flash floods, boosting the padi farming industry, as well as creating a rest and relaxation (R&R) area in Sekinchan to cater to users of the West Coast Expressway (WCE) which will run through the town.

“The restaurants and eateries at the R&R area will generate income for our residents as well as make Sekinchan an interesting stopover for the WCE users,” said Ng.

Ng, who is the Selangor DAP vice chairman, had played many roles throughout his four terms as an elected representative.

He was firstly one of the only two Opposition assemblymen in the Selangor legislative assembly before the state was won by the then Pakatan Rakyat in 2008.

Ng was then Selangor Speaker for five years after the 2018 polls, and according to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, would be proposed for an executive councillor’s position if Pakatan retained the state after this Saturday’s (Aug 12) polls.

One of Ng’s best attributes, perhaps, was his ability to speak Javanese fluently which had brought him close to the local community.

Restaurant owner Naquiddin Mohd Sairi said Ng would speak in Javanese whenever he met the Malays there, predominantly ethnic Javanese.

“The people he spoke with would also reciprocate in Javanese,” said Naquiddin, adding that Ng was an elected representative who was always on the move meeting his constituents.

Another Sekinchan resident, Shamsuddin Yusop, said Ng was an easygoing person and could get along with everyone.

“He is also a very good assemblyman and has helped many farmers, fishermen and small-time businessmen here to develop their livelihoods,” said Shamsuddin.

Ng will defend his seat in a straight fight with Bersatu associate member Datuk Goh Gaik Meng.