Star dish: Nor Hayati selling Pattaya fried rice at Taman Pekatra night market in Sungai Bakap, Penang. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
Voters want meaningful engagement after voting season is over
NIBONG TEBAL: Voters grappling with cost-of-living issues can’t help but wonder if election candidates will still show their faces after the voting season is over.One of them is Nor Hayati Jamil, a fried rice hawker in one of the busiest corners of Taman Pekatra Indah, Sungai Bakap.
“These politicians will introduce themselves and always want to take photos at our stall.
“It’s fine with us, but will the one that wins come by again to speak to the people about our issues? I’m not sure...” said the 35-year-old.
Nor Hayati, whose speciality is Pattaya fried rice, a staple encased in an egg omelette and topped with a piece of crispy fried chicken, said her economic welfare has declined due to rising costs.
“The price of eggs has gone down a bit, but it’s not enough. I go through 10 trays of eggs every five days and fry up to eight chickens a day.
“But I cannot raise my prices or I will lose my customers,” she lamented.
Customers have complained that her chicken cuts are getting smaller and there’s not much she can do about it.
“I wish the winning candidate can speak for us and maybe offer assistance in some way.
“I want them to turn up and have actual conversations with us,” said Nor Hayati.
Retiree Goh Khok Lui, 78, said the younger generation has been leaving Sungai Bakap because there is little work opportunity there.
“Assemblymen are our immediate connection to the state government. I want to see young people running businesses and doing well but right now, life is better for them elsewhere,” he said.
Lorry driver M. Shashi, a father of four aged between nine and 20, joined in the chorus about politicians who only show their faces when an election rolls around.
“I earn RM1,900 a month and it’s hard to give my family a good quality of life.
“I do as much overtime as possible but after a recent accident, I’ve cut down on my work,” said the 48-year-old.
Shashi said he does not mind other work opportunities or localised aid in the form of rations.
“We never see assemblymen after they win,” he added.
Mohd Saad Mohd Non, 37, who sells biscuits at pasar malam, said he has met a few election candidates but they never asked him what improvements could be made.
“I am a kampung guy. This is my home and I work hard every day. It’s important to have someone I can trust and be able to speak to about local issues,” he said.
The price of diesel is Mohd Saad’s latest pain.
“I used to spend RM150 for a full tank. Now, I pay RM250, or RM400 to RM500 a month on diesel for nothing but work.
“I applied for the RM200 Budi Madani cash aid but did not get it and I don’t know what to do,” he said.
Mohd Saad wants an assemblyman with an efficient service centre to help his constituents.
