GEORGE TOWN: Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) will field at least four young candidates in the coming 14th general election.
They include Umno Permatang Pauh Youth chief Abu Bakar Sidekh, acting state Gerakan Youth chief Jason Loo, state Gerakan publicity bureau chief Ooi Zhi Yi and acting state Gerakan Beliawanis chief Koo Pei Chee.
Ooi, 34, likened the opportunity to contest as a platform to help voice out for the people of Penang, particularly in the area he will be contesting in, besides to expand his political career.
He said it also proved that BN was committed in listening to the the voices of the young people in efforts to further develop Malaysia.
“I am sure that there will be challenges when I face a more matured opponent with a different political belief. However, that will not prevent me from giving my best to the people.
“As such, I have set up several strategies to ensure BN’s ideology and struggle can be conveyed in the best possible manner to the target group, irrespective of age, race and religion,” he told the NSTP in an interview.
It is learnt that Ooi will be fielded in the Kebun Bunga state seat while Abu Bakar in the Seberang Jaya state seat, Loo (Pulau Tikus) and Koo (Batu Lanchang).
Ooi, who is a political science graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), said his nomination for the coming elections would be a platform to dispel all negative propoganda thrown against BN.
“I see the coming elections as a ‘war of perception’ to attack BN. While it is true that national issues will dominate the campaigning scene, but I am certain that it will be handled well.
“Besides, I will also stress on local issues which must be addressed to ensure a better quality of life for the people,” he added.
Meanwhile, Koo, 32, said she was prepared to face her opponents and wrestle back the Batu Lanchang state seat, currently held by DAP.
The former teacher said she had made the necessary preparations to face her opponents, particularly to ward off the ‘war of perception’ which is expected to dominate the campaigning scene.
“I have also come out with specific manifesto for the people of Batu Lanchang and solutions for issues currently faced by them.
“Among them is the easy availability of their elected representative, the welfare of the senior citizens and the traffic problem in several hotspots,” she added.