WONG Siew Ki is no stranger to dissent. 

The Pakatan Harapan candidate for Balakong will likely be a vocal backbencher if voted into the Selangor state assembly on September 8.

A political documentary producer before she joined DAP, Wong is part of a generation of youth politicised after the 2008 watershed elections, which saw Barisan Nasional losing its two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat and five states for the first time.

She participated in the Bersih 2.0 rallies and was active in Kelab Bangsar Utama and Dapur Jalanan Kuala Lumpur. Her contemporaries like Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng and Bandar Utama assemblyman Jamaliah Jamaluddin are actively campaigning for her in the by-election.

The 32-year-old made her debut in 2012 as a documentary producer with Jatuh, a film about political aide Teoh Beng Hock’s death while being questioned at the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office in Shah Alam.

“Those who were involved in (opposition) politics then could lose their lives any time. I thought it was important to highlight that,” Wong said.

Her other documentaries: Hasut (2016) highlighted the increased use of the Sedition Act to silence government critics after the abolition of the Internal Security Act while Warisan (2014) documented the loss of historical buildings in Kuala Lumpur because of development.

Dissent was the common theme in her documentaries but Wong was also no stranger to working from within an establishment.

Having served as a political secretary to a former Selangor executive councillor and a municipal councillor, she told The Malaysian Insight she was confident she will be able to work with various government agencies to solve Balakong’s long-standing traffic, flood and water supply woes.

“We just gained control of Putrajaya. The legislator must be able to work with all three levels of government to develop Balakong.

“My predecessor, Eddie Ng, was popularly known as the waterman. He distributed water to the people when there was water shortage. We want to resolve this for good so that it won’t happen again,” said Wong, adding that the Kajang Municipal Council will be announcing plans to ease traffic congestion in the area.

Cultural and youth development

With a mix of 61% Chinese, Malay (30%) and Indian (8%) voters, Wong has her work cut out for her as tries to meet the needs of different segments of society in Balakong, some of whom still live in their silos.

“The infrastructure in Chinese new villages are worse off compared to new residential neighbourhoods. There is also an influx of migrants because it’s an industrial area. It’s a challenging constituency.”

Balakong, a former rubber estate, is mostly known as an industrial area now.  

“Chinese new villages have their own histories. In Japan, almost every city and town have their own mascot that represents the place’s character and unique identity.

“Apart from physical infrastructure, I also want to increase the people’s cultural appreciation and love for Balakong,” said Wong, adding that she will continue her predecessor’s practice of organising Pesta Balakong, a cultural festival, to engage youth.

One of the more pressing problems she will have to tackle is the drug menace, prevalent among the youth.

“Why do they take drugs? It’s because of a lack of purpose in their lives. I’ve run documentary workshops for youth before. Everyone has a smartphone now. We taught them how to write and present a story, and to shoot in these workshops. Everyone can shoot but how do you tell a good story?

“You need to develop your own perspective. That means developing independent-thinking skills. It also teaches them to express themselves. When they are filled with a desire to learn, to ask questions about things they don’t know, they don’t have time for other things like drugs,” said Wong.

Wong will be facing MCA’s Tan Chee Teong in the September 8 by-election.

The state seat was declared vacant following the death of its assemblyman Eddie Ng Tien Chee in an accident at the Grand Saga Highway on July 20.

In the 14th general election, Ng retained his Balakong seat for the second term after defeating Lim Chin Wah from BN and Mohamad Ibrahim Ghazali (PAS) by 35,538 votes. – August 21, 2018.