In the last general election in 1999, unbecoming remarks made by the Barisan Nasional (BN) Seputeh candidate could have helped the opposition DAP's candidate Teresa Kok Suh Sim to win the parliamentary seat which is under the Federal Territory.

"In the last general election campaign, the then BN candidate Sua Chong Kei made some sexist remarks about me on his fourth day of campaigning during a dinner.

"He said he is man, I am a woman and that he stands and I squat. He also said he is a doctorate degree holder and since I only have a Masters, he is intellectually superior," said Kok when met during her campaign rounds at the wet market along Jalan Kelang Lama.

She says she believes those disparaging remarks helped swing the votes in her favour but expects no such luck this time. According to her, 'a certain political think-tank' predicts that the BN candidate this time around, Chin Yen Foo, will win this time around.

Nevertheless, Kok says she will be campaigning hard to maintain her incumbent status and hopes that voters will judge her on her track record which includes helping squatters.

In 1999, Kok defeated three other candidates to win the Chinese-majority seat by a majority of 5,200 votes. She obtained 28,657 votes while her nearest rival, Sua garnered 23,457 votes.

A case in point are the squatters affected by the building of the New Pantai Expressway who were unhappy with the quantum of compensation paid to them by the highway's concessionaire for acquiring their land.

"As they were BN supporters, they initially approached that ruling party to help them secure a higher compensation amount, but the problem was not resolved.

"They then approached me for help, and I fought for them and managed to secure a higher compensation amount. That man over there is one of the squatters who now supports the DAP," she says pointing to a plump man in his 50's who promptly gave her the thumbs-up.

Secular status

When asked how she goes about resolving residents' grouses, she said she has a simple 'report card' system where all complaints and follow-up actions are recorded.

"I also raise these issues in parliament besides have my assistants keep track of and handle those grouses which I am not able to deal with due to my hectic schedule and heavy workload," she says, adding that this is to ensure that every single complaint is looked into.

"That is why my campaign slogan for this polls is 'Stand by Me and I shall Stand Up for You' and I have ably demonstrated this over the past five years," she says.

Kok also says one her mission is to resolve the problem of flash floods, water cuts, burst pipes and contaminated tap water which have been a recurring issue in her constituency. She will also push for an increase in the number of vernacular schools in Seputeh.

And like other DAP MPs, Kok stresses her re-election is vital to help the party defend the secular status of Malaysia which is enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

She adds she and the party will continue the struggle to expand democratic space and enhance human rights in the country and to uphold judicial independence, Press freedom and freedom of speech.

Kok says the last five years were tiring but rewarding ones for her. "At the end of the day, I could sleep better knowing that I had contributed to the country and helped the people."