The Malaysian Insight

THEY’RE both 51, and they both have a grievance against PKR president Anwar Ibrahim contesting the Port Dickson by election, which they describe as political entitlement.

So Stevie Chan and Lau Yeck San have thrown their hat in the ring for the October 13 polls, making it a seven-cornered fight for a move long telegraphed by Pakatan Harapan in the May 9 general elections.

Former school teacher Lau counts the possibility of losing her deposit as just one of the sacrifices she is willing to make to send a message to political parties not to take advantage of Malaysians.

“People have been suppressed. Politicians think they are too smart for the people,” Lau told The Malaysian Insight.

“If I lose the deposit it is going to be for Elections Commission, it is … for the Tabung Harapan.”

The mother-of-four said she dipped into her savings to fund her campaign in the Port Dickson by-election.

“My machinery is only myself, my husband and God… a lot of people do not believe me, but it is that. No one is sponsoring me,” Lau said.

Former Port Dickson lawmaker Danyal Balagopal Abdullah stepped down last month to allow Anwar to contest the seat and have a shot of getting back into Parliament and be the future prime minister.

Chan, who announced his candidacy soon after Danyal resigned, said he wasn’t trying to be a giant-killer by taking on Anwar.

“I am not here to be a hero. I am not here to be a messiah. What is happening in Port Dickson is a negation of what we have fought for and achieved on May 9,” said Chan.

“This looks like it is back to the arrogance, corruption of power and accountability we had before.”

Both Chan and Lau come from urban backgrounds in Segambut and Seremban respectively.

They both claim their decision to contest in Port Dickson was to bring back the voice of the people in Parliament, and if they win, they would not abide by any party’s bidding.

 “Look at country, we have (the Pakatan Harapan) manifesto but there are excuses being made every day. Why must you be fooled and let them decide?

“I am here to ask you, what do you want? Let me be your voice,” Lau, who is the only female candidate, said.

“My voice in Parliament is your voice. There will not be a party to tell me what not to say.”

Port Dickson’s other candidates besides Anwar, Chan and Lau are former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Isa Samad, PAS man and air force veteran Nazari Mokhtarm and Anwar’s former aide and sodomy accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The constituency is formerly known as Teluk Kemang. It has 75,212 voters, with a Malay majority of 42%, Chinese (33%), and Indians (22%).

Danyal won the seat in GE14 by 36,225 votes, beating MIC’s V. Mogan and PAS’ Mahfuz Roslan. – October 1, 2018.