Sunday April 28, 2013

GE13: Matriarch’s blessing keeps Ronald Gan going

By R.S.N. MURALI
murali@thestar.com.my

Gan (left) and Malacca MCA chief Datuk Gan Tian Loo posing for a picture with Leong at her home in Taman Bachang Baru.

MALACCA: A rare invitation by 107-year-old matriarch Leong Swee Yong to bless MCA's Barisan Nasional candidate for Banda Hilir Ronald Gan has renewed his optimism for wresting the seat from DAP.

Leong, who has voted in the past 12 general elections, invited Gan to her home in Taman Bachang Baru here on Friday to give him moral support.

The great-grandmother, who spoke to Gan in the Hainanese dialect, told him that she had been following political developments through her grandchildren.

She told him not to be discouraged by the opposition's campaign to wrest power in the state.

The historic city has not been spared the resonating cries of “Ubah” with opposition parties engaging cyber troopers to draw the crowd to their ceramah.

The cyber troopers have also been held responsible for belittling the efforts of the state MCA in rendering service to Malacca constituents.

The day before Gan went to Leong's home, he made the headlines in Chinese dailies for being garlanded by a young fan, whose parents are DAP supporters.

Form One student Ee Chu Ning, 12, garlanded Gan while he was on his campaign trail in Taman Hilir in Ujong Pasir.

Her parents, who were wearing DAP's “Ubah” T-shirts, had expressed their appreciation to Gan for his help in the past.

Chu Ning said her mother was grateful to Gan for helping her when the 2013 school year started.

“I was sent to a rural school based on my UPSR results and my mother went around asking for help to get a place near our home.

“An opposition assemblyman asked us to seek MCA's help. In just three days, I was given a place in a school that is walking distance from my home,” she said.

Chu Ning's mother, who requested anonymity when approached by journalists on why she still wore the “Ubah” T-shirt but still appreciated Gan for his help, said:

“This T-shirt is just to please my neighbours. Who I vote for is still a secret.”

Like Gan, the candidate for the Kesidang sate seat, Lim Eng Teck, is upbeat about getting support from his constituents.

Lim, 43, who was a local councillor, said almost 80% of the voters were familiar with his face since 2008, adding that he had been attending to their problems although he was not an elected representative.

The social worker said he had maintained MCA's tradition of rendering help to all, regardless of race, and this had helped elevate his popularity among communities like the Malacca Chittys, who are part of the voters in the constituency.

“I have been visiting the people here daily, even before I was nominated as candidate.

“I have friends here, even among DAP supporters who mix freely with me,” he said.

Barisan's candidate for the Klebang state seat Lim Ban Hong is also optimistic over his chances.

“I have only been having four hours of sleep daily just to keep pace with my predecessor, Datuk Seet Har Chow, who had been serving the constituency effectively,” he said.

For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site

More News

News

Sunday April 28, 2013

GE13: Matriarch’s blessing keeps Ronald Gan going

By R.S.N. MURALI murali@thestar.com.my

By R.S.N. MURALI
murali@thestar.com.my