State polls: Subang Jaya candidates go all out to woo voters during last weekend before Polling Day

CANDIDATES for the Subang Jaya state seat in Selangor are making full use of the last weekend before Polling Day with an intensive schedule campaigning at high-traffic public places.

These include meeting voters at markets, places of worship, parks and monthly Car-Free Day events at Jalan Kemajuan on Sunday (Aug 6) as well as small-scale ceramah (public talks).

“We want to reach out to as many people as possible ‒ not just residents but also civil servants,” said Pakatan Harapan’s candidate Michelle Ng Mei Sze.

“We would like to remind them to cast their votes on Aug 12. There will also be early voting on Aug 8 at the Subang Jaya District Police Station Headquarters (IPD Subang Jaya) and postal voting by firefighters.”

For election newbie Zayd Shaukat of Muda, the intensive campaigning has been a busy period but a good learning experience for him and his team.

Muda’s candidate for Subang Jaya Zayd Shaukat (centre, in black vest) distributing flyers containing his manifesto at the Car-Free Day event in SS16, Subang Jaya.

“More people are recognising us when we make our rounds. Some will ask me about my plans for Subang Jaya if I get elected, my manifesto or my professional and education background,” said the former full-time policy analyst.

“I will have my first proper ceramah tonight (Sunday, Aug 6) with a couple of Muda leaders and Muda’s Seri Serdang candidate Amir Hadi.”

Following his walkabout and ‘ceramah bergerak’ (mobile talk) with Muda’s Batu Tiga candidate Cheda Razak on Friday (Aug 4), Zayd said he was in discussion with other Muda candidates to have similar engagements in the coming week.

On the manifesto offered by Muda, Pakatan and Perikatan Nasional, the Selangor Muda secretary said: “The state election is a competition of ideas. Everyone has something to offer and the manifesto allows us to put everything on the table, then leave it to voters to decide.

“I have also taken note of feedback regarding my manifesto by addressing or expanding on them during my ceramah,” said Zayd.

On a separate matter, Ng said she had requested for better enforcement and better coordination of traffic management with event organiser Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) for its monthly Car-Free Day.

“MBSJ has been organising this event for some time. But it so happened that there was another marathon happening the same day as last month’s Car-Free Day, which resulted in many roads being closed off and traffic jams spilling onto arterial roads in Subang Jaya,” said Ng, who confessed to being caught in the traffic snarl herself.

“I understand that the road closures also affected some residents who were unable to return to their apartments in SS16.”

The incumbent Subang Jaya assemblyman said MBSJ had acknowledged the need for improvements in managing the event, such as by stationing enforcement officers at key points to redirect traffic.

“Besides better enforcement and coordination, I have also asked MBSJ to train their staff to exercise discretion and allow residents to return to their homes (instead of completely blocking off access),” said the Selangor DAP committee member.

For the Selangor election, Subang Jaya will see a three-cornered fight between Ng, Zayd and Perikatan’s S. Gana.

Ng will be contesting in Subang Jaya the second time, having won the seat in the 2018 General Election (with a 48,272 majority).

There are 111,970 registered voters in Subang Jaya.