MCA
IPOH: Barisan Nasional's Ipoh Barat candidates are not scared that PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is contesting in Tambun, about 15 minutes' drive away from here.
They say that this is because they have a proven track record when it comes to helping the people on the ground.
"We'll try our best. We have been serving our people and our work speaks for itself," said Low Guo Nan, the BN-MCA candidate for the Ipoh Barat parliamentary seat.
He added that he was not scared of the "Anwar effect" potentially swaying voters in nearby areas for the Pakatan Harapan coalition.
Low said he hoped to show the people that it is important to choose a person who will remain loyal to them and provides service whenever needed.
"I think servicing (the people) on the ground is still very relevant. When we get the allocation, we can build a team to serve the people," he said.
Low, along with fellow Barisan candidates Jayagopi Subramaniam – who is contesting the Buntong state seat – and Lim Huey Shan in the Kepayang state seat, hit the local Buntong wet market on Sunday (Nov 6) to greet vendors and visitors.
Jayagopi said "there was nothing great about Anwar", adding that the Pakatan government failed to fulfil promises it made in the previous general election such as abolishing tolls and PTPTN loans during their 22-month stint in power.
"We are not scared of him. The people can judge for themselves. Let him come here," he said.
Jayagopi said he believed that his work for Buntong would convince voters that he is the best candidate for them.
He added that this includes running the Persatuan Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti Buntong for more than 20 years, a centre offering free rehabilitation services for the disabled.
Former Buntong assemblyman Datuk Yik Phooi Hong, who served the area from 1995 to 2008, was also present to show his support for Jayagopi.
"He was my special assistant and he has been the most hardworking man. I believe in his work so much that I donated my old house in Buntong for him to run his centre for the disabled. I know he has his heart in society," Yik said.
Jayagopi said that this was what being a "wakil rakyat" was all about.
"You are the representative. You must serve the people."
Low is up against incumbent M. Kulasegaran from PH-DAP, Perikatan Nasional's Chek Kwong Weng from Gerakan and independent candidate Tan Sri M. Kayveas.
For the Buntong state seat, Jayagopi is contesting against incumbent Sivasubramaniam Athinarayanan (Perikatan-Bersatu), Thulsi Thivani Manogaran (Pakatan-DAP) and Independent candidates Iruthiyam Sebastiar Anthonisamy and Muhammad Faiz Abdullah.
Lim is up against Richard Ng (Perikatan-Bersatu) and Nga Kor Ming (PH-DAP) for the Kepayang state seat.
