TANGKAK: Among the candidates on the campaign trail, Tangkak candidate Datuk Haw Chin Teck (pic) stands out for his shaven head.
But behind the distinctive look lies a personal story of love, resilience and unwavering support.
The Barisan Nasional candidate has kept his head shaved for nearly three years as a gesture of solidarity with his wife during her battle with cancer.
His wife has since recovered.
Long before entering the race, Haw spent 27 years serving the Tangkak community as a local councillor and later as a lawyer advising community associations.
Haw said those years gave him a deep understanding of the constituency and its people.
“When I make a promise, I keep my promise. Integrity is a value I will never compromise.
“It is the only wealth I truly value,” he said.
The father of two said accessibility to residents has always been central to his approach to public service.
“Anyone can approach me, regardless of who they are.
“These are the qualities a people’s representative should have,” he added.
Haw said Tangkak should make better use of its strategic location, natural attractions and entrepreneurial base to strengthen its role in Johor’s development.
He pointed to Gunung Ledang as an underused asset, saying the constituency should turn its “golden mountain into golden bricks” – a reference to the mountain’s Chinese name, jin shan, meaning “golden mountain”.
Haw also said more efforts were needed to create opportunities for young people to work and build businesses in Tangkak rather than leaving for larger towns.
Closer coordination with the Johor government, he added, would help attract investment and link the constituency to wider development plans.
“We cannot allow Tangkak to become an isolated island,” he said.
He said economic development remained his main focus.
“If we solve the economy, many other problems become non-issues,” he said.
Haw is making his electoral debut in Tangkak, where he will face incumbent DAP assemblyman Ee Chin Li in the July 11 state election.
