Road resurfacing work at Lintang Slim near Perak Road market in Batu Lanchang. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star and filepic
THE Batu Lanchang constituency in Penang has always been a popular food destination.
It is also known for its public market and has a mix of landed and high-rise residential schemes along with a number of primary and secondary schools including the oldest English school in South-East Asia –Penang Free School, which is more than 200 years old.
Around 80% of the residents are Chinese and it has been a DAP and Pakatan Harapan stronghold since 2008.
In the coming state election, Pakatan is again a favourite to win the seat for the fourth consecutive time.
Incumbent Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong is expected to defend the seat, despite rumours of a big reshuffle in the DAP candidate line-up for Penang elections.
Ong is no stranger to the community, having served the people there since his days as a councillor in the then Penang municipal council (MPPP) in 2009.
He won the Batu Lanchang seat in 2018 after defeating Gerakan candidate Koo Pei Chee and Malaysian United Party’s Kee Lean Ee with a majority of more than 18,000 votes.
If chosen again to contest, Ong stands a good chance of winning a second term.
When contacted, Ong said he had done much to help the community during the past five years.
Among the initiatives he highlighted was a water reservoir – the size of two Olympic swimming pools – constructed to alleviate flash floods in the Jalan Van Praagh area.
“The water reservoir resolved the flooding problem that has been haunting the community in the area for almost 40 years,” he said, describing the initiative as his biggest achievement so far in his five years as assemblyman.
On the threat of a possible “onslaught” by Perikatan Nasional, Ong said he did not want to undermine any candidates who might contest against him during the state polls.
However, he is confident that the voters in Batu Lanchang know what Pakatan has done not only for the constituency but also for Penang.
State Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong said Batu Lanchang would be one of the 19 constituencies to be contested by the party next month.
“We want the people to give us the mandate not only in Batu Lanchang but also in all the seats contested by Perikatan Nasional,” he said, noting that people struggling with the increased cost of living were fed up.
“The party will announce its candidates a few days before the nomination day,” he added.
Meanwhile, hawker Yeap Poh Beng, 55, said the people in Batu Lanchang want the stability brought by the unity government to continue so that the economy would prosper.
Drain widening work for flood mitigation in the Batu Lanchang constituency.
“We want a representative who can listen to us and solve our problems. Ong has done a good job,” she said, adding that she hoped he would get the nod to continue.
Batu Lanchang Food Court Hawkers Association chairman Goh Kok Joo, 40, said Ong had been serving Batu Lanchang and its people from the time he was a councillor in 2009.
“He is the right person to represent us as he knows what the community needs,” he said.
The Election Commission has fixed Aug 12 for simultaneous elections in Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Nomination is on July 29 and early voting on Aug 8.
In the 2018 general election, Ong polled 20,615 89 votes against Koo’s 2,407 and Kee’s 139 votes.
The total turnout of voters was 23,370. The breakdown of electorate was 85.77% (Chinese), 7.12% (Malay), 6.64% (Indian) and 0.42% (others).
