CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow has urged all eligible voters at the Sungai Bakap by-election to come out and cast their votes on July 6.
During a speech at the Ziarah Madani programme near Kampung Padang Lalang today, he said the election campaigns would pick up speed in the remaining few days.
“We are still working hard to secure votes. Regardless of the party they support, voting is important, and I hope everyone does so.
“I call on the community leaders in Sungai Bakap to encourage our supporters and members to go out to vote,” he said.
The Unity government is fielding Dr Joohari Ariffin, better known as Cikgu Joohari, in a straight fight in the Sungai Bakap by-election against Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Abidin Ismail.
The by-election has to be called following the death of PN’s incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff, who passed away on May 24 due to a stomach inflammation.
Speaking about Dr Joohari’s reputation among the Chinese, Chow said he is a highly intelligent, kind, and charming man.
“For me, Dr Joohari is a very friendly and polite person, with a good educational background. Everyone, regardless of race, is comfortable around him” he added.
However, he emphasised that it is not just about a candidate’s educational background but also the agenda he hopes to pursue.
Chow also addressed certain problems in Sungai Bakap and recommended creating a forum to deal with regional issues.
“I know there are some issues in Sungai Bakap, so I suggest creating a platform to raise local issues,” he suggested.
This project is an example of a proactive strategy to make sure residents’ concerns are heard and taken into consideration.
Chow also acknowledged that winning would be difficult, especially given the previous vote gap.
“We were about 1,500 votes behind,” he said.
Chow urged everyone involved to keep up the good job and to never give up. He said success is achievable with persistent effort and solid backing from all sides.
The state government’s continuous efforts to put the interests and well-being of the people first are reflected in this programme.
The Ziarah Madani programme is another example of the state government’s dedication to interacting with the population and paying close attention to their issues.