CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow will see himself contesting against four other candidates after all five contestants successfully submitted their nomination papers to contest for the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat.
The other four other candidates are Wong Chia Zhen (Perikatan Nasional), Tan Lee Huat (Barisan Nasional), Ong Chin Wen (Warisan) and Lee Ah Leong (Parti Rakyat Malaysia).
Chow, who is also Penang DAP chairman, told reporters during a press conference earlier that Pakatan Harapan’s objective since 1999 would remain intact, which is to rebuild and reinvent Malaysia for a better future, for the people.
“We have faced very severe challenges to unseat the entrenched Barisan Nasional.
“However, there was a beacon of hope when voters did the impossible by overthrowing Barisan in several states in 2008.
“The Malaysians’ determination to change cannot be underestimated, especially after the all-mighty Barisan Nasional (BN) was toppled during GE14 in 2018.
“The Sheraton Move dealt a terrible blow to the democratic mandate of the voters, and we cannot deny that the people have suffered badly under the Barisan-Perikatan administration.
“Now, the people have the chance to vote out the Barisan and Perikatan again.
“This General Election is not merely about electing your leaders, but it is also about choosing the right faces to represent you (the people) and voicing out your issues in Parliament, as well as solving them,” Chow said during a brief press conference today at the Batu Kawan parliamentary nomination centre in Seberang Perai Vocational College after submitting his nomination paper.
Nomination Day kicked off nationwide today, while the polling date is set on Nov 19, with early voting to take place on Nov 15.
Earlier, Chow arrived at the vicinity at about 7.45am and was seen spending some time with the supporters before entering the nomination hall at 9am.
Hundreds of DAP supporters, including Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, were present.
Accompanying Chow into the hall were his proposer, Datuk Dr Ben Lee, 60, and seconder, Leong Choon Yee, 41.
Chow was the first to submit his nomination paper at 9.04am, followed by Ong (9.09am), Wong (9.12am), Tan at 9.16am, and lastly, Lee at 9.23am.
When asked about his aspirations in Batu Kawan if he wins the seat, Chow has vowed to further elevate the already booming industries there.
As he has always said, Seberang Perai is the future of Penang, and if he wins, Chow will then have a huge responsibility of overseeing the industrial growth the maturing township is currently experiencing.
“Batu Kawan is very different from Tanjong. Aquaculture and heritage are two key contributors that have a big say here in Batu Kawan apart from the rapid industrial growth,” Chow said.
Chow has also vowed to accelerate flood mitigation projects and the development of affordable housing for the people in the Batu Kawan parliamentary.