State polls: Pakatan candidate wants Derga folk to live happily in ‘muhibbah’ spirit

Pakatan Harapan candidate for Derga state seat Tan Kok Yew chatting with a voter.-Starpic

THE "muhibbah" spirit must continue where Malaysians live happily together, says Pakatan Harapan candidate Tan Kok Yew.

He said as a local boy, he wanted to see continuous state development and for the quality of life of the people in Derga to improve.

Tan, 56, also said it is important to vote in a government that is aligned with the Federal Government so any developments or improvements can be better implemented.

"What Kedah needs is a winning team which can form a new government and voice the needs of the people to the Federal Government," said the two-term assemblyman.

He said it is important that voters understand the importance of the unity pact at the Federal level.

"We need to upgrade public facilities and infrastructure, which has not been well maintained," he said.

The Derga state seat will see a three-cornered fight between Tan, Perikatan Nasional's Muhammad Amri Wahab and Independent, Man Basiron.

In the 14th General Election, Tan won a three-cornered fight defeating PAS' Yahya Saad and Gerakan's Cheah Soon Hai.

There are 37,738 voters in Derga, with more that 60% comprising Malays and a significant Chinese community.

Pakatan's candidate Teh Swee Leong, who will defend the Kota Darul Aman seat, said that even if he wins, it would only be meaningful if other candidates from the unity pact are victorious.

"I don't want to be alone – all our candidates must win and it is the only way we can achieve more, regain power and do the best for the people," said the Kedah DAP secretary.

On what he aspires to do if he gets the mandate again, the 34-year-old former accountant said he wants to make Kota Darul Aman an eco-tourism hub.

He said Alor Setar has many rivers like Malacca which can be cleaned up and developed as a tourism product.

"Tourism activity will have a multiplier effect on the economy and create more job opportunities for the youth," he said.

He said other matters on his radar were to upgrade the existing infrastructure, improve public facilities and create better and more affordable housing for the people in Alor Setar.

Teh will be facing first-time Perikatan candidate Chuah See Seng in a straight fight.

In GE14, Teh defeated MCA candidate Tan Eng Hwa, PAS' Zulkifli Che Haron and Parti Rakyat Malaysia Tan Kang Yap.