MELAKA (Nov 6): Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Duyong (N.21) state seat, Poo Long Suan, will embark on a 10-kilometre walk this Sunday under the “Langkah Abang Long” mission to assess pedestrian walkways and other infrastructure in the area.
Poo, 43, a former Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Councillor, said the mission would cover 10 stops, starting at 7am at Taman Seri Duyong and ending at Masjid Fathur Rahman in Pengkalan Rama. Melaka DAP chairman and Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong will join him on the walk.
“The programme is organised to allow us to personally assess the condition of pedestrian walkways while also evaluating the state of infrastructure around the Duyong area.
“Pedestrian walkways are among the basic amenities used by residents daily. Therefore, we want to ensure that these walkways are accessible, safe and suitable for public use,” he told a press conference at the PH Bukit Baru main operations room here on Friday.
Poo, who is affectionately known as “Abang Long”, said the mission was expected to take about three hours to complete, as they would also engage with residents at each stop to listen to their problems, complaints and views on development in the constituency.
Poo said the information gathered during the programme would help him plan new infrastructure development or upgrade existing facilities, with a view to advancing the Duyong constituency if he is given the mandate in the upcoming state election.
The Applied Chemistry graduate said Duyong residents were also welcome to join the mission to foster closer ties between the candidate and the people.
Meanwhile, he said about 45% of Duyong residents had been engaged through various walkabout programmes during the first six days of campaigning for the 16th Melaka State Election since last Saturday.
“So far, I have seen a very positive response from residents towards me and PH, and I will work even harder to win over voters during the remaining week of campaigning,” he said.
He said the walkabout approach would continue into the second week of campaigning, focusing on several areas, including Durian Daun, Semabok Perdana, Bukit Godek, Seri Duyong and Desa Duyong.
The Duyong state seat sees a straight fight between Poo and its incumbent from Barisan Nasional (BN), Mohd Noor Helmy, who won the seat with a 200-vote majority in the last state election.
The Election Commission has set Nov 14 as polling day for the Melaka state election, while early voting will take place on Nov 10.
Uploaded by Evelyn Chan