GE15: BN’s rose among thorns issues debate challenge in Bayan Baru

GEORGE TOWN – Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate Saw Yee Fung may be the only woman among five other men vying for the Bayan Baru parliamentary seat, but it has not stopped her from being labelled the “boldest” candidate in the contest.

Today, Saw, aged 33, issued a debate challenge to Bayan Baru incumbent Sim Tze Tzin, focusing on contentious issues from traffic congestion to flash floods.

She said it is better to debate matters constructively rather than dwell on personal attacks or topics that do not help the voters resolve their woes.

“I hope Sim will respond soon to my challenge,” said Saw.

However, Bayan Baru PKR division head Sim, aged 46, could not be reached for comment.

The other candidates for the seat are Warisan’s Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun, 67, a former two-time DAP MP for Jelutong, and Oh Tong Keong, 54, the Gerakan deputy president.

Another candidate is independent Kan Chee Yuen, 49, a St Xavier’s Institution alumnus.

Meanwhile, Penang DAP has launched a campaign to help Penang-based students from public and private institutions of higher learning to return home to vote.

“We hope to help students from the B40 category, who can register online with us at web.bit.ly/jomundipulaupinang,” said the state DAP secretary Lim Hui Ying.

Lim is vying for the Tanjong parliamentary seat, where she faces Tan Kim Nee from BN and H’ng Khoon Leng from Perikatan Nasional.

The party plans to subsidise the costs by paying for two-way travel for eligible students, following feedback from youth that going home to vote this election is expensive due to the rise in living costs, Lim added.

The students must prove that they intend to vote in Penang and their claims must be for the travel period of between now and just after November 19.

They can submit claims from now until November 18, Lim told a press conference.

There is no limit to how many first-time voters the party can subsidise, but it will have to be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Those who are overseas but want to vote should register with the Election Commission to become a postal voter, said Pengkalan Kota assemblyperson Daniel Gooi. – The Vibes, November 7, 2022