PENANG (Aug 12): Pakatan Harapan candidate Phee Sze Syn for Sungai Puyu hopes to fill the shoes of her father Phee Boon Poh, who has held the seat for five terms since 1999.  
 
The 72-year-old stepped aside this election as DAP fielded Sze Syn, 38, an accounting graduate from New Zealand, who is facing Andrew Teow from Perikatan Nasional in a straight fight.
 
Assuming she wins, she hopes to enhance activity spaces for older people and children, prioritise women's empowerment and gender-inclusive policies, and promote a moderate, progressive and diverse approach.
 
"Running for this seat is a mix of excitement and responsibility. I recognise that there are significant expectations of me, and there might be large shoes to fill considering my father's legacy of dedicated service these many years," she said outside SMJK Chung Ling Butterworth here where she greeted voters, with her father beside her.
 
Boon Poh, who was in the exco for three terms since 2008, said the party needs young blood.
 
"The party committee decided she is my strength as she has been assisting me since I was appointed as an exco," he said.
 
In Penang, voter turnout has been low, said Lim Guan Eng, DAP chairman, Bagan MP, and Air Putih candidate.
 
By 1pm, the Election Commission reported a 46% turnout in the state.

According to Lim, whom Sinar Harian quoted, the turnout percentage at the time was not as high as the November parliamentary election.
 
"We are very worried if the percentage of votes goes down, it will affect the results of the state election to some extent," he was quoted as saying.