CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow, foreseeing the future of Penang is in Seberang Perai, said he is happy to be sent to contest the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election.
He said he accepted the arrangement made by the party (Democratic Action Party) for him to leave Tanjong where he had served four terms as its Member of Parliament.
Chow, known to have enjoyed good support and good rapport with the community in Tanjong, said Batu Kawan is completely different from Tanjong: it’s so much bigger in terms of racial mix and economic activities. He is also the Padang Kota assemblyman.
“What attracted my interest is as I often say, the future of Penang is in Seberang Perai.
“Batu Kawan is the industrial corridor of Penang. If you look at the constituency map of Batu Kawan, it starts from the Penang Bridge in Perai right up to the second bridge near IKEA Batu Kawan.
“It happens to have the most potential to grow and to support Penang as a state, as we move into high technology. The Batu Kawan industrial estate is now a world-renowned E&E (electrical and electronics) technology hub.
“Of course, with rapid development over the last few years, we face a lot of infrastructure issues as well.
“They include traffic congestion and floods. So, I hope being the chief minister, I can focus on resolving some of these infrastructure issues of Batu Kawan and the industrial corridor so that we can have a stronger foundation for future growth.
“I see this as a big challenge but when the issues are resolved, Penang will be propelled into the next level of economic and industrial development.
“So, I think it is a very important constituency and although it is going to be much more challenging to serve compared to Tanjong, I am ready to take up this challenge,” Chow said when asked by a reporter on his move to contest in Batu Kawan after opening the Central Muslim Society Convention 1.0 at Universiti Sains Malaysia today.
The Batu Kawan seat is vacated by Kasthuriraani Patto, who was highly praised by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke for her dedicated services to the party and making way.
Chow said Pakatan had won the seat for three terms in 2008, 2013 and 2018 with an increasing majority each time.
“We hope to continue with this level of support, but on condition that we must work hard for it. Nothing is to be taken for granted.
“We will do a serious campaign, mobilising our members from Pakatan Harapan to reach out to the people and sharing with them what we intend to do and why I choose to contest in Batu Kawan.
“By doing that, they can also support my vision and mission to ensure that the future of Penang is in Seberang Perai,” said Chow, adding that he would not neglect Penang island, if not all his friends would come after him in a lighter vein.
DAP will be contesting seven of the 13 parliamentary seats in Penang, as announced by Loke at a Harapan Convoy ceremony at Karpal Singh Drive today.
Of the seven DAP contestants, he named two new faces – Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid and Senator Lim Hui Ying to contest in Bukit Bendera and Tanjong respectively.
The remaining four contestants are incumbents R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong), Ramkarpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor), Steven Sim (Bukit Mertajam) and Lim Guan Eng (Bagan).
The Election Commission has set Nov 5 as the nomination day and Nov 19 as the polling day.