CHUAH: The Nipah virus took his father and nearly claimed his life.
More than 25 years later, Chuah candidate Pau Jeou Ching wants to build on his long-standing ties to the hometown that shaped his resilience by helping transform it into a viable economic hub.
Pau was just 14 when he contracted Nipah encephalitis during the 1999 outbreak that devastated Kg Sungai Nipah, where he grew up.
He spent two weeks in what is now Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, while his father became one of about 100 people who died in the outbreak.
Today, the 41-year-old Barisan Nasional candidate wants to showcase the unique heritage and stories of Chuah’s villages to attract more visitors.
“Every village here, whether Kg Pachitan, Kg Sawah or even Kg Sungai Nipah, has its own story to tell. These are all selling points that can promote Chuah, especially as an ecotourism destination.
“We can build on attractions such as the Sungai Nipah Time Tunnel museum before expanding to other villages,” said Pau.
He said Chuah should become more than just a stopover for motorists passing through.
“We want people to stay, explore what this small town has to offer and, in doing so, create more business and job opportunities for local traders and residents,” he said.
If elected, Pau said he would use his engineering and business experience to improve residents’ well-being.
He said the rising cost of living and the need for better infrastructure were among the issues most frequently raised by voters during the campaign.
“Developing rural tourism and improving infrastructure in the nearby towns are among my priorities,” he said.
MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon described Pau as an ideal candidate, citing his resilience after surviving the Nipah outbreak and his deep roots in the constituency.
“Although he has never held public office, he has spent years helping attract start-ups to invest here while actively serving the community through the Negri Sembilan Foo Chow Association.
“We see in him a young local leader who is committed to Chuah’s development and prosperity without losing the human touch,” he said.
Pau is in a straight fight against Pakatan Harapan’s Datuk Yew Boon Lye for the Chuah seat, which has 15,129 eligible voters.
