Bridging the urban rural divide

The heart and soul of Malaysia is as much in smaller towns like Teluk Intan as it is in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching or Kota Kinabalu.

THREE years ago, I was asked by then Gerakan Vice-President and Teluk Intan division chairman Datuk Mah Siew Keong to make a visit to Teluk Intan to research the socio-political issues of the area and assist him in drawing up his strategy as the 13th general election beckoned.

I had just resigned as special officer to then Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and was a “free agent” in the loose sense of the phrase. I was special officer to Dr Koh for over three years and I assisted him with research and in inter-religious matters.