BEKOK: Barisan Nasional incumbent Tan Chong is spending the closing days of the Johor election campaign doing what he says has defined his first term — meeting constituents, solving problems and asking for another chance to serve.
Rather than trading political blows, Tan said his campaign has focused on reconnecting with voters, highlighting what has been achieved over the past four years and what he hopes to continue if re-elected.
The veteran politician, who has been active in politics for 32 years, is defending the Bekok seat he won in 2022.
"Many people have told me they will support me. Even when they don't say much, sometimes you can tell from their body language that they are sincere," he said.
Despite the campaign entering its final stretch, requests for help continue to pour in daily, ranging from infrastructure complaints to personal matters.
Asked whether the constant demands ever become overwhelming, Tan laughed.
"No. Giving convenience to others is giving convenience to yourself," he said.
He added that he prefers meeting residents where they are rather than asking them to come to him.
"If someone calls me from outside town, I will go and meet them. I don't ask them to come to my office because I want to make things easier for them," he said.
Tan said many of the issues brought to him fall outside a state assemblyman's formal responsibilities, but that has never stopped him from trying to help.
Over the past four years, he said he had pushed for road upgrades, telecommunications towers, flood mitigation projects and improvements to public facilities, while also assisting residents with legal matters and citizenship applications.
"I don't draw a line between whether it is a federal, state or local issue. If residents need help, I will always do my best to assist," he said.
As campaigning enters its final hours, Tan also made an appeal to outstation voters to return home and cast their ballots.
"Come home and support me with your vote. You can continue working hard outside with peace of mind while I continue looking after your hometown and your elderly family members here," he said.
Tan, who won the Bekok seat with a 3,569 majority in 2022, is facing Pakatan Harapan's Tay Yok Jiuen in a straight contest.
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