PAKATAN Harapan’s (PH) candidate for the Kota Kemuning state seat, Preakas Sampunathan, does not want to ride on the coattails of incumbent Ganabatirau Veraman, if given the mandate in the Selangor polls.

The first-time election candidate from DAP said he means business and wants to continue the work Ganabatirau had begun to bring about positive changes to the constituency.

“I think my incumbent has done a fantastic job and he has set a very high benchmark.

“I believe I have to do better. It’s not easy.

“I will try my best (if given the mandate) to make sure progress is continued and also to improve the environment, ecosystem and lifestyle of the Kota Kemuning people,” the 41-year-old Penang-born lawyer told The Malaysian Insight.

In the 2018 polls, Ganabatirau secured the seat with a 21,639-vote majority in a five-cornered fight.

Ganabatirau was elected Klang MP in the November 2022 federal election, paving the way for Preakas to stand in the state polls.

Six states – Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu – decided against holding elections last year due to the floods. The state polls will now take place on August 12.

The Kota Kemuning constituency will witness a three-cornered fight, where Preakas will contest against Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Jimmy Chew Jyh Gang and K.K. Gunasekaran of Parti Rakyat Malaysia.

Preakas said he will not take his opponents lightly despite knowing the seat is a PH stronghold.

Accepting the fact that all candidates have their own capabilities, Preakas, however, is optimistic of his chances.

“Besides PH voters, I also get good support from our Barisan Nasional (BN) friends. They have been very welcoming even though I’m new. So, in that sense I’m quite confident,” he said.

“The people here, all they want is someone who can listen to their plight and be able to resolve them,” he said.

Plans for constituency

The Kota Kemuning constituency made headlines when severe flooding hit Taman Sri Muda in December 2021.

Sri Muda was one of the worst-hit areas in Shah Alam, which displaced over 14,000 people.

Parts of the residential area were inundated in flood water as deep as 4m.

Preakas said the Selangor government has taken great measures to ensure such devastating floods do not recur again in the constituency.

“New water pumps have been installed and a new pump centre will open soon.

“There is also widening of drains and new, bigger drains have been constructed to ensure there are no more flood issues in Sri Muda.

“In addition to that, the state government has also pledged to initiate action to mitigate floods where it is in the process of spending RM3 billion to ensure it is a permanent solution rather than temporary,” the father of one said.

Preakas also said another issue that needs to be addressed is the traffic woes that beset the constituency.

“Kota Kemuning folk literally spend hours in traffic. It is because there are too few access roads leading to the main highway.

“I’ve tried to find the local council’s plans for traffic flow. I’ve come to understand that they’ve come up with a plan for Shah Alam and there’s a proposal made for Kota Kemuning.

“There has to be a flow throughout Shah Alam in order to disperse traffic. When the plan comes up, I will fight for the purpose of reducing and controlling traffic in the Kota Kemuning constituency,” he said, adding that he will be following up with the council on the matters to ensure they are executed.

Taman Sri Muda now stands as one of the most populated areas in Selangor’s Kota Kemuning constituency, with more than 9,000 houses and apartments occupied by mostly those in the M40 and B40 groups.

Besides flood mitigation works and resolving traffic woes, Preakas said he would be working on cleaning up the constituency.

“People are spending a lot of money to buy big houses here but the place is getting filthier.

“I’ve had a meeting with the contractors and they have given me the assurance that they will improvise on the collection of garbage in the area,” he said.

Preakas said maintenance of the roads and playgrounds will also be looked into.

With a number of developments taking place in Kota Kemuning, Preakas added that he will be looking at proper, sustainable and eco-friendly urban planning.

He said there must be a balance between development and greenery.

“Usually, there will be impact studies but we simply can’t just rely on that. We need to do our own assessment to have a proper perspective of Kota Kemuning.

“I want to have transparent and accountable planning so that the constituency is protected, to sure it’s a liveable city,” he said.

Besides this, another major issue that Preakas said he would address if elected is the opening of a second secondary school in the Kota Kemuning township.

The area’s one and only secondary school SMK Kota Kemuning, which opened in 2002, is reported to be overcrowded. Preakas said he will speak to the relevant ministries to expedite the development of the school.

SMK Kota Kemuning, designed for 1,500 students, now has about 3,800.

“There are some legal issues to clear and they are in mediation now. We are trying to expedite the matter,” he said.

Preakas said his vision must be doable and deliverable, and not be overly ambitious. – August 6, 2023.