PCM’s Huan sees 'open window' to join race for Bukit Gelugor

by Himanshu Bhatt
GEORGE TOWN (April 28): The race for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat is gathering more pace with Datuk Huan Cheng Guan, Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice-president and former Gerakan vice-president, expressing interest to contest.

Huan – who was MP for Batu Kawan from 2004 to 2008 while with Gerakan – today called himself a thoroughbred Penang ‘lang’ (person in Hokkien) born at Green Lane beside the Bukit Gelugor constituency.

His announcement comes just hours after members of a new local Chinese political outfit, the Penang Front Party friendly to Barisan Nasional (BN), made known their intention to appoint a candidate for the by-election.

The Penang DAP has already shortlisted five candidates to defend the seat for the party. The final selection by the central executive committee is expected to be made at its meeting in Kuala Lumpur tonight.

In a statement this afternoon, Huan described how the demise of Karpal Singh while still serving his third term as Bukit Gelugor MP has left “a void” in Parliament for a parliamentarian with the courage to speak up and experience to tackle pertinent issues.

DAP icon Karpal died in a road accident on April 17. The by-election will be held on May 25 with nominations scheduled for May 12.

“If I were to succeed, for sure, I will maintain the late Karpal's tradition of relentlessly seeking justice, bringing development to people where it matters, listening to constituents and speaking up whenever necessary,” Huan said.

“As a thoroughbred Penang ‘lang’, the time has come for me to give back to that constituency which moulded me into who I am today via this open window,” he added.

Huan stressed that as a Chinese, he prefers to stand in a constituency that has predominantly Chinese voters. (Some 75% of Bukit Gelugor voters are Chinese.)

He said even when he was no longer MP after the general election in 2008, and held no special position in government, he kept serving people by voicing their concerns.

“To that end, I set up CPAM (Centre for Political Awareness) to increase awareness of issues by spreading truths and stopping lies,” he said.

“Even when netizens mocked me, I pressed on, speaking up without fear or favour just so people can have a fair and balanced perspective of the situation.”

He acknowledged that there may be people deriding his decision, but asked that he be judged by his record of accomplishments as Batu Kawan MP and even when he was not an MP.

“Perhaps then, you can see my heart to serve Malaysians regardless of creed, colour or class.”




FZ