Bukit Gasing likely to see four-corner fight in general election
Tuesday, December 18, 2012 - 15:53
Location: PETALING JAYA
http://www.mmail.com.my/story/threes-company-dap-41170
http://www.mmail.com.my/story/threes-company-dap-41170
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| Kasthuri: Her main concern is reaching out to needy grou |
THE DAP could be handing the Bukit Gasing state seat over to Gerakan in the next general election if it does not consolidate the three DAP-linked candidates vying for this constituency.
While Kasthuri Patto may be DAP's anointed candidate to defend the seat that the party won in 2008, two other DAP-linked candidates are also throwing their hats into the ring.
Although Kashturi comes with political firepower — she is after all the daughter of late DAP stalwart P. Patto and is Lim Kit Siang's political secretary — the other two could also be sentimental choices for the electorate.
Simon Lee, is the son of the late Edward Lee Poh Lin who won the seat for DAP in 2008. Ex-journalist and Petaling Jaya councillor K.W. Mak, meanwhile was Edward's assistant. [Sic: Simon was personal assistant and to his late father the entire tenure as State Assemblyman for Bukit Gasing, while KW Mak was campaign manager to the late Edward Lee in the 2008 12th GE.] Simon and Mak said they will be contesting as independents to offer the electorate a wider choice.
However, if voters get confused, there is a possibility that Gerakan's Datuk Dr Lim Thuan Seng, who held the seat for two terms — may be able to return due to split votes.
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| Mak : People should not blindly elect a leader |
"We are not looking to get involved in partisan politics, but rather focused on the community movement," Simon said, adding this is the reason why he wants to contest as an "independent" under Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
"I saw my how my father was unable to perform his duties to the best of his abilities as he was tied down to party policy and had to toe lines.
"Which is why I want to offer the DAP a chance to have a truly people's representative," said Simon.
Among his concerns for the area are the conversion of privately-owned residential leasehold titles to freehold titles and issues surrounding the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). Mak, meanwhile, said people should not blindly elect a leader.
"I saw my how my father was unable to perform his duties to the best of his abilities as he was tied down to party policy and had to toe lines.
"Which is why I want to offer the DAP a chance to have a truly people's representative," said Simon.
Among his concerns for the area are the conversion of privately-owned residential leasehold titles to freehold titles and issues surrounding the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). Mak, meanwhile, said people should not blindly elect a leader.
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| SIMON: Not looking to get involved in partisan politics |
"The people must question their leaders and ask what they are actually going to do for them instead of just making promises," he said.
Mak, 36, said housing and development are major issues not affecting Bukit Gasing area alone, but the whole of Petaling Jaya.
"Extra development at existing townships has resulted higher traffic flow which leads to congestion. The water supply pressure in these areas has dropped due to more usage. This has an affect on the existing sewerage system as excess use will eventually will lead to overflowing to the drains and later rivers. The effects will be even worse in the near future based on present development," he said.
Kasthuri, a 32-year-old former microbiologist of Universiti Malaya, said her main concerns are reaching out to the needy groups and helping them to find a source of income.
She said besides the land titles and over-development issues, the community also want to see a better future for their children.
Other mainstream issues she will be focusing on include better legal protection for women and enforcement of existing laws.
Mak, 36, said housing and development are major issues not affecting Bukit Gasing area alone, but the whole of Petaling Jaya.
"Extra development at existing townships has resulted higher traffic flow which leads to congestion. The water supply pressure in these areas has dropped due to more usage. This has an affect on the existing sewerage system as excess use will eventually will lead to overflowing to the drains and later rivers. The effects will be even worse in the near future based on present development," he said.
Kasthuri, a 32-year-old former microbiologist of Universiti Malaya, said her main concerns are reaching out to the needy groups and helping them to find a source of income.
She said besides the land titles and over-development issues, the community also want to see a better future for their children.
Other mainstream issues she will be focusing on include better legal protection for women and enforcement of existing laws.
"We must highlight the importance of gender sensitivity when handling cases of violation against women. System or procedures should slash red tape bureaucracy which only make the victim suffer more," she said.
Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng meanwhile was unperturbed, saying the people will vote for DAP as it has been tried and tested, and an independent candidate would need a support system to fulfill election promises.
Gerakan's Lim, meanwhile has yet to be guaranteed of a chance to reclaim his seat.
"I was there before for two terms and am waiting for the go ahead sign from party leaders. Of course I have the experience and everything I do, I will do it with sincerity," he said.
Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng meanwhile was unperturbed, saying the people will vote for DAP as it has been tried and tested, and an independent candidate would need a support system to fulfill election promises.
Gerakan's Lim, meanwhile has yet to be guaranteed of a chance to reclaim his seat.
"I was there before for two terms and am waiting for the go ahead sign from party leaders. Of course I have the experience and everything I do, I will do it with sincerity," he said.
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Below is the email correspondence between Simon and the journalist:
I am Andrew Sagayam from The Malay Mail, next month we are launching our 1miilion copies of the newspaper in our efforts to reach out to wider audience and one of the topics that would be highlighted will be on the Bukit Gasing area. As you are running for the seat, I would like to know what is the issues close to you for the area and how is the support for you has been. Hopin very much that you reply me as soon as possible. Thanks chief.
Andrew Sagayam
Senior Writer
The Malay Mail
___________________________________________________________________
Simon C H Lee
I am Andrew Sagayam from The Malay Mail, next month we are launching our 1miilion copies of the newspaper in our efforts to reach out to wider audience and one of the topics that would be highlighted will be on the Bukit Gasing area. As you are running for the seat, I would like to know what is the issues close to you for the area and how is the support for you has been. Hopin very much that you reply me as soon as possible. Thanks chief.
Andrew Sagayam
Senior Writer
The Malay Mail
___________________________________________________________________
Hi Andrew,
Greetings and thank you for your email. I am well and hope you are also.
There are two main issues that are of particular concern to me and the people of Bukit Gasing:
1. Conversion of privately owned residential leasehold titles to freehold titles:
Certain sections of Bukit Gasing are under freehold titles while others are under lease hold titles. This anomaly must be addressed and corrected through the conversion of leasehold to freehold titles.
2. Issues surrounding the local council / MBPJ (administration and functions):
Key issues are:
i. Poor services and the lack of a maintenance culture
There is much to be improved on regarding the delivery system of services rendered by the council be it from grass cutting and proper clearing of cut grass to trimming of trees under the care of the council, rubbish collection, drainage maintenance and upgrading, road resurfacing, proper maintenance and upgrading of public playgrounds, parks, amenities and infrastructure, so on and so forth.
ii. Parking and traffic woes as well as infrastructural inadequacies and strain due to unsustainable, high density development
The Petaling Jaya local plan 1 (RTPJ 1) which includes Bukit Gasing has already been fully implemented. However, plans for redevelopment (urban renewal) of areas under the RTPJ 1 have been announced and the people of Bukit Gasing are concerned over the details of the redevelopment plan. As it is, traffic on major roads in Bukit Gasing is continually increasing to the point of causing intolerable congestion. Parking spaces in commercial areas are insufficient with regular incidences of indiscriminate double parking. Any further development would only worsen and put further strain on the already heavily utilized roads, parking areas, public amenities and infrastructure. The strain on public utilities such as electricity, water and sewerage and whether there is enough capacity to handle the load of further development is another major concern. Irrigation and drainage ways would also be affected. The current capacity of monsoon drains are not able to handle the volume of storm water and thus causing frequent flash floods. Concrete surfaces do not allow water to be absorbed into the ground and is another contributing factor to higher rainwater runoff, causing drains to overflow. Further development would create more covering of surfaces, leading to even more flash flood occurrences.
We want Bukit Gasing to remain livable.
iii. Security
Although security does not come under the direct purview of the State / local government, improved city planning that include security features will contribute in making Bukit Gasing and PJ a safer place.
iii. Overall competency, accountability and transparency issues
As rate payers, we would like to know in detail how our money is spent and whether efficient and quality services are being provided. Much is to be improved on in this area of CAT and the relationship between the rate payers and the council.
iv. The reintroduction of local council elections (to advocate for)
Representation of the people in the council must be by the people and therefore, local councilors must be elected.
v. Continued preservation and conservation of the environment and
Bukit Gasing hill green lung reserve
Bukit Gasing hill green lung reserve
We would like to preserve Bukit Gasing as it is for the current generation and future generations.
The support from the people of Bukit Gasing and community leaders has been positive and encouraging on the whole. However, there were a few concerns regarding my candidacy as a community candidate. These concerns were ranging from the fear of vote splitting to accountability since I will not be running under a political party. My response to these concerns follows:
1. To avoid vote splitting, the people of Bukit Gasing must exercise educated and wise voting in order to vote for the right person to represent them. Vote the right candidate.
2. My accountability will be directly to the people of Bukit Gasing. Running as a community candidate will allow me to fully represent the interests of the people without having to deal with and be tied down by the attachments that comes along with being in a political party
(statement of commitment: http://www.n34bukitgasing.
I hope I have been able to provide you with sufficient information for your article. It would be much appreciated if you could let me have a look at the draft article before finalising it for print. Do not hesitate to email me should you have further questions or clarifications.
Thanks Andrew and warm regards,
--Simon C H Lee
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