TIME is a great healer and this holds true for Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

Voters took warmly to the former Penang chief minister as he stumped for votes today with his party men at the Mount Erskine market, a legacy of Koh’s time in office.

Traders greeted and shook hands warmly with Koh, a familiar face in the Tanjung Bungah state seat, which he held for four terms from 1990 to 2008.

And some wanted to take selfies with Koh, 68.

This is in contrast with 10 years ago, after Penang fell to the opposition, when he was practically jeered out of office. It wasn’t rosy at the last polls either in 2013.

“I am very pleasantly surprised with the reception and response, which is much better than expected. I am meeting many old friends, who are saying ‘long time no see’,” he said visibly pleased after the walkabout.

Koh said BN’s Tanjung Bungah candidate Teng Chang Yeow, who is also state BN chairman, is the right man to lead the coalition these elections.

Teng, he said, had experience as was a councillor at the then Penang Island Municipal Council, Koh’s political secretary and the state tourism exco.

After campaigning in Tanjung Bungah, Koh said he was leaving for Teluk Intan, a Gerakan parliamentary seat.

“I will also be in Kuala Lumpur, where I used to head Gerakan. When I was CM, I received support from Gerakan outside Penang. So these elections, I am also travelling around to help in the campaign,” he said. – May 1, 2018.