CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the Batu Kawan parliamentary candidate, was warmly greeted by the devotees of Sri Meenatchi Ambal Temple when he paid a visit to the temple this afternoon.
The visit was part of Chow’s election campaign ahead of the polling day which is set to take place tomorrow (Nov 19).
Chow said places of worship are important institutions for every religion.
“Thank you to the temple committee for giving me the opportunity visit this more than 120-year-old temple and to get some insights about its history.
“The houses of worship are important religious and cultural institutions for all religions.
“This temple is a place of gathering which also fosters the bond between the devotees.
“For every religion, houses of worship are where we can find serenity in our souls,” Chow said during his speech at the temple.
Chow added that there are many temples in the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency compared to the Tanjong parliamentary constituency where he was elected as its Member of Parliament for four terms.
“I was also informed of some land issues that the temple is facing. This will be discussed with the developer.
“We will look into the best possible way of resolving them,” Chow said.
Apart from that, Chow also said that Batu Kawan is an area that is rapidly growing due to industrialisation.
Also accompanying him were Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik and his Batu Kawan campaign director David Marshel, who is also a Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor.
Chow faces four rivals – Lee Ah Leong (Parti Rakyat Malaysia), Tan Lee Huat (Barisan Nasional), Wong Chia Zhen (Perikatan Nasional) and Ong Chin Wen (Warisan) in the contest for the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat.
As this was the last day of his walkabout campaign in Batu Kawan, Chow and his team proceeded to visit the Taman Tangling Indah night market in Bukit Tambun and Chai Leng Park Food Court in the evening.
Chow was also accompanied by his wife Tan Lean Kee, Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, former state executive councillor Datuk Lydia Ong and his service centre’s special affairs officer Lau Keng Ee.
Earlier in the day, Chow and his team did their walkabouts at the Kampung Valdor market complex, coffee shops and shophouses at Taman Merak Jaya and Taman Merak in Bukit Tambun, the wet market at Tambun Indah and the Sin Soo Chai Kuey restaurant in Sungai Jawi.
At the Taman Tangling Indah night market, Chow was warmly received by traders, food stall operators, fishmongers, vegetable sellers, hawkers and visitors.
Chow also received a very encouraging response from the hawker stall operators and patrons at the Chai Leng Park Food Court.
At both places, he shook hands with them, young and old, as well as posed for photos with them. Some of them took selfies with Chow.
He distributed recyclable bags containing election pamphlets and the 2023 calendar to the people he met.
From the smiles and warm handshakes he received, Chow was certainly a popular man with the Batu Kawan folk.
Despite his hectic schedule, Chow pressed on in this final lap of the campaign.
He would head to Bagan, Bayan Baru and then Karpal Singh Drive for ceramah to woo the voters.
