BATANG KALI: Unity government candidate for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, Pang Sock Tao, is confident of winning the state seat despite not being a local.

The member of Pakatan Harapan's (PH) lynchpin, DAP, said she has received tremendous support from the Malay community in Kuala Kubu Baharu despite only going into the second day of the election campaign.

She added that she also felt assured by the support given by the Malay community following the enrolment of more Malay party members in the constituency.

"It is only the second day of campaigning today where my team and I had earlier visited the market near the Batang Kali area.

"There were many Malay voters at the market (during my visit) who had welcomed me with warmth and provided so much support for me.

"Many had also wished me the best of luck (for the by-election) and such encouragement has allowed me to be in high spirits. Hence, I am confident that we can retain the state seat," she said at an event of the enrolment of new Malay party members, here today.

Pang said this when asked whether she was confident of attracting votes from the Malay community.

DAP earlier received another 50 new members from the Malay community in Kuala Kubu Baharu for its Malay DAP branch located in Jalan Kemboja.

This is the third branch in Hulu Selangor which is being overseen by a Malay community in the consituency, with the other two located in Jalan Ara and Bukit Beruntung.

Meanwhile, Pang added that she was also no stranger to the issues in Kuala Kubu Baharu as she followed the journey and guidance provided by the late assemblywoman Lee Kee Hiong in solving local issues.

She also said despite having an educational background that is not related to politics, she will strive to bring change in the lives of the locals and introduce new political dynamics in the country's political landscape.

"I am a native of Selangor who was born in Ampang and I also studied in the state. The constituency is not unfamiliar to me as I followed the work of the late Lee who has served and organised various programmes here (Kuala Kubu Baharu).

"I have seen how she instilled spirits in (empowering) art programmes, as well as community welfare programmes so this is nothing new.

"I am also often asked why I chose to be involved in politics despite having an engineering background but my answer is that we need to be the change that we want to see in this world.

"While many see that politics can be dirty, I believe that it is a straightforward path to bring change to the lives of the people."

At the same time, Pang also urged the people, particularly youth, to come together and cast their votes in choosing the best representative for the constituency.

This, she said, follows concerns and challenges to assure voters come out and carry out their responsibilities as Malaysians.

"I urge the younger people who want to bring about changes in their local areas to participate in politics if we want a more mature politics (in the country).

"The right to vote is also the people's right, hence, let's go out and carry our responsibilities to vote and choose the best representative for our people."

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election will see a four-corner fight between PH's Pang Sock Tao, PN's Khairul Azhari Saut, Hafizah Zainudin from PRM and Nyau who is an independent candidate.

The by-election, which will be held on May 11, was triggered by the passing of Lee who was a three-term assemblywoman from DAP.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/04/1043702/pang-confident-win-kkb-election-despite-not-being-local