KUANTAN: Tee Choon Ser's spirit to serve has not been dampened as she makes another attempt at taking the Teruntum state seat here in the 15th General Election (GE15).
The 41-year-old Barisan Nasional candidate appealed to the voters in the state constituency to give her a chance as she knows Kuantan and its people well.
"I am a Kuantan girl. I love Kuantan and I know the city well and what the people want. I really want to serve the people here and I hope they will give me the chance to do so," she said.
In 2018, Tee - who is also known to locals as Misty - stood for elections for the same state seat in her first outing in a general election but was unsuccessful.
"I really wanted to win and of course, I was disappointed. But I didn't wallow or give up. I reflected on what I could have done differently or better and hopefully, this time I will achieve my goal. I am not perfect but I will give my best," said Tee.
Tee got her first taste of politics in her early 20s when she was asked by then Kuantan MP Datuk Fu Ah Kiow to serve at MCA's service centre here right after graduating.
"It turned out to be like nothing I had ever done. I didn’t realise that people needed assistance in so many different areas. I saw how so many people are struggling. I also didn’t realise that this is what politicians do. That is how I started (my career in politics)," said Tee.
For GE15, Tee's campaign promises cover a range of concerns experienced by constituents, including infrastructure issues such as public halls and spaces, drainage and roads as well as transportation woes.
She would also expedite the handling of public complaints by reducing bureaucracy in managing such matters.
"I plan to improve the public transport system in Teruntum and the rapid bus transit service in collaboration with the state government and local council," she said.
But apart from pledging to solve these issues, Tee will also focus on empowering women and the youths in Kuantan.
She also plans to set up the Teruntum Women's Leadership and Skills Centre to provide free training and courses for women.
"I believe in women power. Come on, it is 2022. There shouldn't be any discrimination against women.
"Women should be able to choose what they want to do. They should have opportunities and they should aspire to be leaders. Why aim to be managers, aim to be the general manager. Aim to be in top leadership. Go for it, whatever age you are," she said.
Tee also hopes to establish a Centre of Excellence for Youth and kickstart an entrepreneurship programme so the youths can start their own small businesses that can penetrate the local and overseas markets.
"Many small businesses had to close in the last two years because of Covid-19. I want to see what I can do to help them pick up and rebuild their businesses," she said, adding that the centre would also help provide career guidance for Teruntum's youths.
"There are many youths who aren’t really sure of what they want to do after university. We have parents coming to us asking to help guide them because they don’t know how to do so.
"Of course, it is up to the youths to choose their own path but we will help them make informed decisions. I also hope to persuade them not to head to Kuala Lumpur for job opportunities but to encourage them to see Kuantan as a place with as many opportunities," she said.
Tee is in a four-way match against Perikatan Nasional's Ranndy Yap, Pejuang's Khairul Afifie Abdullah and the incumbent Teruntum assemblyman Sim Chon Siang from Pakatan Harapan.
Teruntum is a state constituency with 30,854 voters.
