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JOHOR BARU – DAP’s Pekan Nanas Yeo Tun Siong was forced to debate alone at an event organised by Jaringan Anak-Anak Johor.
Yeo was scheduled to debate with Perikatan Nasional’s candidate Datuk Tan Chin Hock, but according to the event organiser and moderator Siew Min, Tan was not able to attend given clashes in his schedule.
“Tan and his assistant had called me a few times because their timetable had clashes with our 9pm agenda.
“We at Jaringan Anak-Anak Johor have made attempts to rework our schedule, but we are unable to reschedule this debate to 8pm,” Siew said.
Because of Tan’s unavailability, this left Yeo with no choice but to answer Siew’s questions alone.
Yeo, who has served as Pekan Nanas assemblyman for two terms, explained that even his schedule is packed during the campaign period.
“My schedule is packed as well, and I was found positive for Covid-19, which required me to stay at home for seven days.
“Today is the first day I am out of quarantine and there is only about one day left to campaign.
“But because there are residents in this constituency, I took the opportunity to attend because voters want to know the views of every candidate,” Yeo said during the debate, which was aired on Facebook Live.
He also took the opportunity to inform voters that he has unfinished business for the Pekan Nanas constituency, which he hopes to resolve upon being elected as assemblyman again.
The outstanding issues include roads that are in poor condition and traffic congestion.
Touting what he claims to be among his strong suits in the race for the state seat, Yeo emphasised that he is an assemblyman that spends a lot of his time on the ground meeting residents.
He said that in today’s political climate where voters are apathetic to politicking, constituents are more concerned with representatives that are able to listen to grouses and solve problems.
“The first requirement to bring changes to a community is to go to the ground.
“For example, if I don’t visit the public market in Pekan Nanas, how would I know what problems the traders are facing there?
“I do my work by going to the ground and listening to the people’s grouses,” Yeo explained.
Further, he emphasises that his experience and performance at the state assembly would prove beneficial for the people in Pekan Nanas.
Yeo explained that debates are an important aspect of a legislature that ensures a constituency’s problems can be brought to the public light.
“At the state assembly, we have the opportunity to raise questions, and as representatives, we are experienced in debating.
“Sometimes the government will give answers that are not satisfactory, which is why we must know how to ask follow-up questions to get better answers.
“If you look at the Hansard in our state assembly, I think it proves I have a good performance there,” he added.
Yeo went on to say that debates are not only an important part of the legislative branch but elections as well.
He explained that through the medium of debates, voters are able to assess which candidates they are willing to cast their ballots for.
“This is why I encourage the culture of debate even during elections.
“Voters can determine what a candidate says has a basis.
“It is through debates that people differentiate glass from diamonds,” Yeo explained. – The Vibes, March 10, 2022