jeffrey goh sim ik MCA first-timer Dr Jeffrey Goh Sim Ik, a wealthy dentist and entrepreneur, is clearly the underdog in this David-and-Goliath battle to unseat three-term incumbent Tan Kok Wai from the DAP stronghold of Cheras.

In the 1999 general election, the opposition party defeated MCA with a majority of 8,992, and four years later increased its majority to 11,861.

cheras parliamentary seat Since the re-delineation exercise in 1995, the Cheras constituency has included a new township incorporating parts of the Sungai Besi, Pudu and Chan Sow Lin.

The growth of these residential and commercial centres have also brought along social problems, notably the rise in crime and traffic congestion.

Cheras - a mixed population of working-class and upper-income urbanites - has one of the largest Chinese electorate in the country (84.1% Chinese, 9.6% Malay and 6.2% Indian).

The highest concentration of voters are in Taman Midah Kanan, Taman Yulek, Taman Miharaja and the low-cost housing areas of Jalan Pasar, Rumah Pangsa Loke Yew, San Peng and Loke Yew areas.

Petition to the government

Both the contesting candidates are fighting on issues close to the hearts of the voters in their campaign rounds - the key being the need to build more Chinese primary schools in the constituency.

dap tan kok wai pc 021007 talking DAP’s Tan told Malaysiakini that he is seeking to build additional Chinese primary schools in the southern part of the constituency as there are already two in the northern zone - SJK(C) Chung Kwo and SJK(C) Sam Yoke.

“The two Chinese primary schools - Naam Kheung and SJK(C) Taman Connaught - in Bandar Tun Razak - adjacent to this constituency - are already extremely overcrowded,” he lamented.

“To resolve the problem, I have found two pieces of land - one in Cheras Utama and another in Taman Segar - for the proposed schools. I have also worked together with the people in Cheras to petition the government with more than 11,000 postcards.”

A campaign aide to MCA challenger, Goh, was quick to dismiss Tan’s effort as “a bluff”.

Goh had reportedly said: “What the DAP can do, I can do. But what I can do, the opposition may not be able to do.”

He also promised to build two new police stations to curb the spike in crime in the area.

“On the building of Chinese primary schools, Goh had asked for one term (as member of parliament), failing which he will resign as the elected representative,” said his campaign aide.

Tan’s anti-toll campaign

In the bid to rebut allegations from his challenger that he had not done much in his constituency, Tan spelled out that there had been no less than 10 development projects in Cheras.

This included upgrading road and flyover projects, flood mitigation project for Sungai Kerayong, a RM4 million retention pond in Kampung Cheras Baru and the on-going effort to extend LRT services from Taman Maluri to Taman Segar.

Tan said he had also managed to secure RM280 million to upgrade Jalan Loke Yew and the roundabout at Jalan Loke Yew and Jalan Cheras, as well as getting an interchange built at Leisure Mall and Phoenix Plaza.

cheras toll price hike protest 311206 tan kok wai Once the upgrading projects are completed, traffic congestion at these places will be reduced and motorists will also enjoy toll-free usage of the roads, he said.

Tan gain popularity in the area from the days when he bitterly fought against the Cheras toll plaza in the late 80s, which eventually came to an end in 2003.

With the Cheras toll no longer an issue in the constituency, development has taken center stage.

Goh said, “For the past 20 years, the Cheras constituency has been in opposition’s hands. There has been minimal change, if none at all, in some areas of Cheras. The only change is that the people of Cheras are getting older and increasingly tired of empty promises.”

cheras parliamentary google earth map