BATU PAHAT: Penggaram voters are in for a battle of first-timers, with Barisan Nasional’s Boo Chin Liong squaring off against Pakatan Harapan’s Felicia Poh Rui Ling in a seat that will have a fresh face for the first time in more than 10 years.
The direct contest features a 37-year age gap in a constituency long regarded as a DAP-MCA battleground.
Chinese voters make up 60.28% of the electorate in this main town of Batu Pahat district, followed by Malays (36.44%), Indians (2.26%) and others (1.02%).
Boo’s campaign to unseat the DAP is centred on reviving Batu Pahat’s local economy, creating better jobs and resolving longstanding infrastructure issues.
He said Batu Pahat is recognised for its industrial base and entrepreneurial spirit but needs investments to revitalise its economy.
The lawyer, widely known as as CL Boo, stated that his extensive experience with the Batu Pahat Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) gave him a huge advantage in understanding the challenges faced by businesses.
He served as president of the Batu Pahat chamber for the past six years and is now ACCCIM deputy secretary-general.
“I handled commercial and trade matters mainly from the legal side. But through the chamber, I had to look at issues more broadly, including wider problems faced by the business and industrial community,” he said.
The father of three knows the background of Batu Pahat’s industrial growth well but lamented that things have slowed down of late.
“What we need to do is to help rejuvenate economic activity here by being proactive and drawing investments, both local and foreign,” he said.
If elected assemblyman, Boo said it would enable him to better coordinate with government agencies, regulatory bodies and potential investors.
His manifesto includes attracting high-tech and high-value industries involving electronic components, precision parts, fabrication, injection moulding, medical and pharmaceutical industries, and energy and metal-related sectors to create more jobs and attract the young to return.
“This will also help address the town’s ageing population. Many parents and grandparents live apart from their children and grandchildren,” he added.
Boo said infrastructure improvement was a key part of his masterplan for Penggaram, citing the need for better roads, drainage, public toilets, traffic flow and streetlighting.
On education, Boo said Batu Pahat should build on its industrial base and position Penggaram as a regional hub for TVET learning to support the shift towards a high-tech industrial centre.
However, he said he remained realistic about the contest, with Barisan losing the seat in the previous state poll in 2022.
“But I have got strong encouragement and backing this time. I will do what is best for Batu Pahat and improve things,” he pledged.
