Tanjong seat to see three-cornered fight

GEORGE TOWN: It started to rain just as Barisan Nasional's Tanjong candidate Tan Kim Nee from MCA arrived at the nomination centre at Dewan Sri Pinang here Saturday (Nov 5).

Her supporters were on stand-by as it started to rain at about 8.20am as umbrellas were quickly handed out.

Chants of “victory” were shouted as Tan and her supporters proceeded to march towards the nomination centre at 8.35am.

Also in attendance were Tanjong MCA chairman Loke Poh Chye and his vice-chairman Tan Hong Teik, and former assemblymen Lee Hack Teik (Pengkalan Kota) and Lim Gim Soon (Komtar) who turned up to show their support.

By the time they reached the nomination centre, the rain had stopped. Security was tight as some 50 policemen were on duty around the vicinity.

Tan said she was confident that she would give Pakatan Harapan candidate Lim Hui Ying a good fight.

“I will speak up on issues about youths and hope that the people would give me a chance to support them. There is a new young generation in MCA, and I hope that Penangites will give me a chance to speak for them in Parliament," she said.

Tan, 38, who works as a customer service executive, is the sister of Hing Teik who is also Barisan’s Komtar coordinator.

DAP’s candidate Lim Hui Ying was accompanied by her father DAP stalwart Kit Siang and supporters.

Gerakan candidate H’ng Khoon Leng was last to arrive at the nomination centre at about 8.45am.

It will be a three-cornered fight for the Tanjong parliamentary seat come polling day on Nov 19.

In the 14th General Election (GE14), incumbent Chow Kon Yeow beat Gerakan Wanita deputy chairman Datuk Ng Siew Lai with a 29,599 majority out of a 40,130-voter turnout.

For this GE15, Chow will contest in the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat.

There are 13 parliamentary seats up for grabs in Penang, six on the island and seven on the mainland.

Out of the 13 parliamentary seats, Pakatan holds 10, with DAP taking seven and PKR three. Bersatu and Barisan have two and one respectively.