BARISAN Nasional (BN) candidate for the Batu parliamentary seat A. Kohilan Pillay is banking on the rift between former MP Chua Tian Chang and incumbent P. Prabakaran to take him to the finish line this Saturday. 

The MIC vice-president said the quarrel between Prabakaran and Tian Chua is actually an advantage for him as the votes will be split.  

“The rift between them will help me garner about 10% to 15% (of support), but there are other factors as well that will contribute to my victory.  

“The people are also fed up with their MPs and have waited 15 years without anything done for this constituency,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

Kohilan is also unfazed by the 10-way fight for the seat, as he has the strength and advantage on capturing the hearts and minds of the Batu people.  

“I’m sure we can get the support from the people. I won’t give up. 

“There are no issues going against Prabakaran and Tian Chua as they have their own problems.” 

Pakatan Harapan candidate Prabakaran won the seat as an Independent with the support of Tian Chua in the 2018 election. 

Tian Chua was disqualified from contesting in the 2018 general election due to a RM2,000 fine for insulting the modesty of a police officer. 

In 2018, Prabakaran garnered 38,125 votes, defeating BN’s Dominic Lau Hoe Chai (13,687), PAS candidate Azhar Yahya (10,610) and Independent V.M. Panjamothy (383). 

This time, Tian Chua has decided to contest as an Independent after PKR decided to back Prabakaran to defend the seat. 

Also in the race are Azhar Yahya (Perikatan Nasional), Wan Azliana Wan Adnan (Pejuang), Naganathan Pillai (Warisan) and Mohd Zulkifli Abdul Fattah (Parti Rakyat Malaysia). 

The Independent candidates are former two-term MP Tian Chua, lawyer Siti Kasim, social media influencer Nur Fathiah Syazwana Shaharudin and social activist Too Cheng Huat.

MIC man a local boy

Kohilan said that he was also banking on his status as a local boy and former teacher in the area to win the highly contested parliamentary seat. 

To garner support, he has been visiting schools in the area to meet and greet the parents.  

“I have been a student and teacher here. So far I have been to six schools.  

“Many of them (voters) are my students’ parents and now my students as well. 

“I have been going personally to meet them. Face-to-face approach is still the best. These are the people I believe will vote for me.” 

Kohilan was former deputy foreign minister from 2009 to 2013 and former deputy plantation industries and commodities minister from 2008-2009. 

He plans to transform his manifesto into action once he gets the people’s mandate. 

He said that the manifesto was created after going to the field and listening to the grouses of the people. 

His manifesto has nine goals – on education, economy, sustainability of Malay villages, safety, affordable housing, upgrading places of worship, welfare, uplifting lifestyle and development on information technology.  

“Batu, I believe, has the highest number of B40 families, because for the last 15 years there was no development in the area or any work done to rectify the issues here.  

“So, all the issues here have accumulated until today.” 

Kohilan said that in his manifesto, he has highlighted that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) must come up with more low-cost housing (PPR).  

“This is because the demand is there but the supply is not. We have highlighted a few areas.” 

Another issue that needs to be addressed immediately is parking at the PPR. 

“Here, there is a serious shortage of parking. People are double-parking everywhere. 

“So, DBKL has to come up with a three- or four-storey elevated parking for each area.  

“It should also look into building covered walkways from the car park to the flats,” he said. 

As for education, Kohilan said in his manifesto he has highlighted the need for tuition centres in Batu. 

“We need to educate the young as it will be the key to their success in their lives. 

“We look into zoning and placing the tuition centres possibly in Intan Baiduri, Batu Muda, Sentul and Bandar Baru Sentul. 

“We will try to accommodate as many as we can because for the children, their homes (PPR) are not big enough for them to study.” 

The Batu constituency has an estimated 113,000 voters. Its ethnic composition sees Malays making up 43%, followed by Chinese (30%), Indians (20%) and others (7%). – November 16, 2022.