GE13: Leong hands Triang over to daughter

TEMERLOH: Pahang DAP chairman Leong Ngah Ngah, a five-term Triang assemblyman, will hand over the defence of his state seat to his daughter Yu Man.

Leong, 58, said his daughter, 28, had quit her job as a nutritionist in Singapore to focus on her campaign.

“She is leaving her job which pays much higher than what I get as a state assemblyman.

“But she has decided to make the sacrifice and I respect her decision,” he said after attending the launch of the Pakatan Rakyat state manifesto here on Wednesday.

Leong will be contesting the Tanah Rata state seat in Cameron Highlands.

He was initially slated to contest Ketari in Bentong, but the seat was handed to state party organising secretary Lee Chin Chen at the last minute.

“To contest anywhere is fine. I was planning to retire but party adviser (Lim Kit Siang) persuaded me to stay on.

“I accepted it and decided to have one last go as a candidate. I feel Pakatan needs me at this crucial moment, I am ready to work hard for DAP,” he added.

Yu Man admitted feeling a little stressed over shouldering the responsibility of defending her father's seat, which he has held since 1990.

“I accepted the offer to contest because I feel I can serve the people better if I am here in Malaysia to continue my father's work.”

Yu Man, the third of five siblings, said she could count on her father's guidance as a veteran politician during the campaign period.

She is slated to face Barisan Nasional newcomer Tan Tin Loon.

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