GEORGE TOWN – Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Sim Tze Tzin, who is defending the Bayan Baru parliamentary seat, has welcomed the stiff challenge posed by five other contenders in the best interest of democracy.
He called on new voters to conduct online research of candidates vying in the 15th general election (GE15), especially those in multi-cornered fights.
“Much information is now available online, and voters can browse through various links to have a sensible knowledge about the candidates and their ideologies,” the Penang PKR deputy chief said after nominations closed here today.
Sim is facing challenges from former DAP parliamentarian Jeff Ooi (Warisan), Gerakan’s Oh Tong Keong (Perikatan Nasional), Barisan Nasional’s youngest female candidate Saw Yee Fung and independent Kan Chee Yuen.
He is also up against social activist Ravinder Singh (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) who, at 80, is the oldest candidate in Penang for GE15.
Ravinder recently retired after decades of service at the Consumers Association of Penang.
Sim said voters should take time to know their candidates, comparing their abilities and the parties they represent.
He added youth should look at candidates who have a proven track record to bring about the desired changes for the country.
“No meaningful change happens overnight. We must stick to the course. I hope the voters can appreciate PH’s goal to reform the country for the better,” he said in an interview.
He also touched on local issues, especially traffic congestion, which is a major concern in the Bayan Baru industrial township.
Sim said that the PH state government has come up with immediate to medium-term goals to resolve the problem.
Several key interchanges here will entail AI-driven traffic lights to disperse vehicles intelligently by early next year, he noted.
The main roundabout at Bayan Baru will also be upgraded next year with an underground pathway constructed to allow better movement of vehicles.
The light rail transit system is being planned to run through Bayan Baru, he added.
“This is a proactive government, not reactive. We plan ahead. So we need to be given another chance to carry on with our plans,” he said. – The Vibes, November 5, 2022
