PROMINENT Penang lawyer Baljit Singh, who is contesting the DAP-held Jelutong seat for Barisan Nasional, describes himself as an honest and sincere man who will “work more and play politics less” if he wins on May 9.

Baljit, who was brought into politics by former chief minister and Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon, said Koh taught him that being in politics is not about making money.

“He said whether people appreciate what we do there and then does not matter because people will realise eventually.

“I think this is true because after 10 years, people are comparing the old and current administrations, and they realise that the former wasn’t so bad.”

He said if elected as MP, he will push for outdated laws to be changed, such as the Civil Law Act 1956, as well as those concerning unilateral conversions and punishments for convicted snatch thieves, whom he believes deserve to be whipped for causing hurt to victims.

“I will push for more decorum in the House. It is sad that people are using the House for their political stunts and gimmicks, instead of using the sittings for legislative purposes.”

Baljit’s politics is also driven by the desire to tackle welfare issues. He sees the rising cost of living and low-cost housing as important issues for which he will get the federal government to address and provide funds.

He is concerned, too, about Malaysia’s race relations, which he said are in a sad state as there are “hero wannabes” championing certain races, causing segregation.

“Social interaction is bad. People have become very sensitive, and some people are just rude. We have forgotten what made us a nation, about the Rukunegara,” he said, adding that he wants to do his part in building Malaysia’s nationhood.

Born to a poor family in Gelugor, Jelutong, Baljit is familiar with the hardship that afflicts the working class. As such, he understands the sentiment of Jelutong folk, who are mostly low- and medium-income earners.

“We were poor. My father was a shop assistant. When I was young, I worked at a carpet shop in Lebuh Bishop.

“I was one of the few lawyers who rode a motorbike to work until I could afford my first car – a Proton Iswara Aeroback – five years later, in the late 1990s,” he told Malaysia Decides.

Remembering his humble beginnings, Baljit often does charity work to help the poor, such as donating food, medicines and spectacles, and giving legal advice. This has made him a familiar face to locals.

Some of the younger staff members in his law firm are from families that he has helped. They affectionately address him as “uncle” – although Baljit insists that he is still young at 51. – May 2, 2018.