BATU GAJAH: People in Tronoh had wanted incumbent assemblyman Paul Yong Choo Kiong to continue contesting the state seat, says his son Bryan Yong Wu Sean.
Bryan, who is contesting the state seat under a Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) ticket, said the people were aware of the contributions made by his father and had hoped that he could continue serving them.
“My father has done a good job in developing essential infrastructure here,” the 25-year-old entrepreneur said at the Tronoh service centre.
“But he has decided to step down and I have his blessings to contest, and hopefully continue his legacy,” he added.
Bryan is facing Steven Tiw Tee Siang (Pakatan Harapan-DAP), Leong Chee Wai (Barisan Nasional-MCA), Roslan Ismail (Gerakan Tanah Air-Pejuang), Sin Koon Yen (Perikatan Nasional-Gerakan) and Meor Shahimudin Hasim (Independent).
Paul was a two-term assemblyman who had won the state seat in 2018 and 2013 with DAP, but left Pakatan shortly after the collapse of the Pakatan state government in 2020. In July, the High Court here found Paul guilty of raping his Indonesian domestic helper and was sentenced to 13 years’ jail and two lashes of the cane.
He was granted a stay of execution pending an appeal.
When asked whether his father’s court case would affect his campaign, Bryan said the constituents knew what kind of person Paul is.
“I do not think it will have an impact. People here know my father well and court proceedings have been reported in the news, so people can see for themselves,” he said.
