Malaysia

Ripe time: PRM to field oldest candidate in state polls

Activist Ravinder Singh, 81, to contest in Pantai Jerejak

Updated 2 years ago · Published on 23 Jul 2023 8:00AM

Ripe time: PRM to field oldest candidate in state polls — Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Ravinder Singh (pic), 81, a consumers’ rights advocate, will probably be the oldest candidate in the state elections next month. He was among the party’s candidates named yesterday, which includes Penang PRM chairman Teh Yee Cheu. – HIMANSHU BHATT/The Vibes file pic, July 23, 2023

by Ian McIntyre

GEORGE TOWN – Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s (PRM) Ravinder Singh, 81, a consumers’ rights advocate, will probably be the oldest candidate in the state elections next month.

He was among the party’s candidates named yesterday, which includes Penang PRM chairman Teh Yee Cheu.

Teh, 64, and Ravinder will contest in Air Putih and Pantai Jerejak, respectively.

Former PKR member Abdul Ghani Haroon, 58, will try his luck for the third round – this time, contesting the Sg Pinang state seat.

Running for the first time are Goh Chuin Liao, 56, and Lee Chui Wah, 63.

Lee will fight for the Tg Bungah seat, while Goh, who is a disabled activist, will contest in her home locality of Pulau Tikus.

A surprise appearance in the state polls is 59-year-old Datuk Lee Kim Noor, a former president of the Penang Ratepayers Association, who has decided to contest in Batu Uban on the Muda platform. – Pic courtesy of Muda, July 23, 2023

Effective

PRM deputy president Datuk Mohamed Ezam Mohd Nor, a former confidante of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said that PRM can be an effective opposition if given a chance to serve the electorate here.

There has been an undercurrent of discontent among the voters here after the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led state government is seen as turning a blind eye and deaf ear to public protests against mega projects, which are not only a waste but undermines the ecology here, according to Ezam.

Muda, meanwhile, will contest in three state seats here.

Penang Muda chairman Andika Putera said the party will contest in Pantai Jerejak, Batu Uban and the Prai state constituencies.

Entrepreneur Vikneswary Harikrishnan, 36, is in charge of the Nibong Tebal parliamentary seat for the party, but she will contest in the Prai state seat, where she is slated to face the heavyweights of DAP (PH) and Gerakan (Perikatan Nasional).

A surprise appearance is 59-year-old Datuk Lee Kim Noor, a former president of the Penang Ratepayers Association, who has decided to contest in Batu Uban on the Muda platform.

An outspoken former Penang Island City Council councillor, Lee was the centre of attention during the Covid-19 pandemic, when she fought for the reduction in assessment and licensing fees to help residents here cope with the ill effects of the pandemic.

The candidate for Pantai Jerejak will be announced soon, said Andika.

Nominations are fixed for July 29, early voting on August 8 and elections on August 12. – The Vibes, July 23, 2023