Veteran vs rookie battle in Kinrara

KINRARA has 123,782 registered voters, making it the constituency with the highest number of voters in Selangor.

Here, two local men who have resided and based their careers in Puchong for over 20 years are vying for the Kinrara state seat.

Incumbent assemblyman Ng Sze Han (Pakatan Harapan-DAP) is locked in a straight fight with newcomer Wong Yong Kang (Perikatan Nasional-Bersatu).

Ng is looking for a third term, after having won Kinrara in the 2018 General Election with a 45,212 majority and securing a 14,604 lead in the 2013 General Election.

“I understand the needs of Puchong locals because the township means a lot to me.

“I got married, had my five children and started my political career here,” said Ng, a Puchong resident since 2000 and former regional manager in the aviation industry.

Ng (left) faces Wong, a fresh face in the battle for the Kinrara seat.

Ng said there was a need to continue upgrading Puchong’s infrastructure to replace ageing ones and keep up with current needs.

Some traffic-dispersal solutions are the RM90mil interchange at Rio City in Bandar Puteri Puchong, which has been built, and the RM2.8mil missing link connecting Bandar Kinrara 5 to Bukit Jalil Expressway, which is under construction.

The 52-year-old, who is Selangor DAP secretary, envisions making Puchong a place where people can call home and feel a sense of belonging.

“We need to have more recreational, social and cultural activities to cater to different lifestyles and ages. Puchong still does not have an arts centre, unlike Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya.

“Taman Wawasan Recreational Park can serve as a hub for different types of recreational activities and be a benchmark park for Selangor.

“I am hoping to create a picnic area and an outdoor wedding corner for garden weddings,” Ng said.

Wawasan Recreational Park underwent close to RM3mil in upgrades over the past five years, according to Ng. – FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

He added that the park had undergone close to RM3mil in upgrades over the past five years.Ng said he also hoped to improve first- and last-mile connectivity and mobility in Kinrara, such as through the introduction of a demand-responsive transit (DRT) trial service and improved walkways to connect neighbourhoods.Meanwhile, Wong who is Puchong Bersekutu (Bersatu’s non-bumiputra wing) wing chief, hopes to be given a chance as a fresh face.

“Residents have complaints about illegal rubbish dumping, insufficient rubbish collection, abandoned cars and clogged drains,” said the father of three, who has been introducing himself as “Ah Kang” during his campaign rounds.

The 49-year-old has lived in Puchong for more than two decades, and runs a packaging and machinery trading business based in Taman Kinrara for the food and beverage industry.

On issues that he wanted to champion, Wong said: “Residents are asking for a mid-sized government hospital with about 70 beds to be built here, as Hospital Serdang is too far (away) and very busy.

“I have been told that the site is already available for such a facility in Bandar Kinrara 5.

“The B40 and M40 groups both need more affordable housing and infrastructure improvements. In addition, the B40 group needs help with welfare, education and job opportunities.

“The ageing drainage system in Taman Kinrara 1 and Taman Kinrara 2 needs to be upgraded to address the flooding issue in those neighbourhoods.”

Taman Puncak Jalil Residents Association president Zainuddin Zainal is hoping the new Kinrara assemblyman will be able to work on the construction of a primary school in Taman Puncak Jalil.

“There is a site earmarked for the school and there are sufficient student numbers to justify its construction,” he said.

Bandar Puteri Puchong 7 resident Paramjit Singh said issues that an assemblyman should focus on were infrastructure development, education, healthcare, environmental conservation, employment opportunities and community welfare.

“It is essential for an assemblyman to understand the challenges faced by their constituents and work towards addressing them effectively,” said Paramjit.