DURING a walkabout at Cheras Traders Square this evening, Wong Siew Ki took to the streets to listen to grassroots sentiments.

Pakatan Harapan’s Balakong by-election candidate was greeted with enthusiasm and requests for selfies from stall vendors, customers, shop owners and even children.

A Cheras resident, Nithian, 31, said “seeing Siew Ki has invigorated the public”.

On whether the early voting process had given her more confidence for a win in the polls, she said it was too early to tell.

“The votes today consisted of only 31 votes. With one vote void, one vote from a pensioner and one vote suspended, only 28 votes were approved.”

On plan to ensure high voter turnout for the polls on Saturday, Wong said arrangements had been made for vehicles to ferry the elderly, while flyers had also been distributed to encourage people to do their civic duty.

“It is hard to say whether turnout on Saturday will be high. There are still people that do not know that Saturday is voting day, which is why walkabouts are important,” she said.

On her rival in the by-election, MCA’s Tan Chee Teong’s criticism on the Selangor speaker’s call to increase allowance for state legislators from RM300 to RM500, she said: “It was merely a suggestion… any politician can give suggestions, including Tan.”

“However, he had said that due to my lack of voicing out against certain issues, such as Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s third national car initiative, he assumes we support the issue.

“It is not true. It is just a case of me having voiced out my opinion and, maybe, he was not informed of it.”

She also slammed Tan’s remarks on PH being a “U-turn” government.

“When we come out with an opinion but end up making a decision in the interest of many, he calls us a ‘U-turn’ government. What actually happens is that we voice out our opinion, but we always make sure we reach a consensus first.”

She said while the walkabout had given her a boost in confidence, she would not play things cool.

“My team and I must keep working hard to ensure the voice of the community is heard.” 

Polling day for the Balakong by-election is on Saturday. Wong faces a straight fight with Tan for the seat. – September 4, 2018.