news feature Contrary to popular belief that Keadilan is fielding an 'unknown' for the Indera Kayangan by-election, its 60-year-old candidate, Khoo Yang Chong, is relatively popular in Kangar.

The former teacher has been in the public eye for years, especially during the 1980s, when he was the president of the town's Buddhist society. He held the post for four terms, during which he was also an MCA member.

For the past four years, Khoo has been the executive-secretary of the Cantonese Association.

"I am only a clerk," says the modest father of five, explaining that his job mostly entailed clerical work.

A Keadilan Youth leader, Liau Kok Fah, sheds more light on Khoo's character. "He is not in it for the money. He has a peaceful life here but wants to see an end to injustice," said Liau.

Prior to the last-minute announcement that Khoo would be leading the Keadilan charge in Indera Kayangan, party leaders gave the impression that they were locked in a nail-biting dilemma over who to field.

Numerous names were mentioned, including local medical practitioner, Dr Por Choo Chor whom the party failed to woo despite the rumoured gentle persuasion by Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Por was said to have turned down the candidacy because of his father's health. "He did not want to disappoint his father who is a hardcore MCA man," said a party leader.

However, word also has it that Por refused the offer because he did not want to be "the man who goes against MCA".

Feminine touch

The Indera Kayangan by-election will be held on Jan 19 and Keadilan's Khoo will face Barisan Nasional's retired school headmistress, Oui Ah Lan. The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Khor Tiang Lee last month.

Though observers say the battle is tough, they are also quick to note that Oui has an unfair edge in the form of propaganda machineries. Televison and radio stations will be used to ensure a BN victory, they added.

Gerakan Wanita leader Kee Phaik Cheen who accompanied Oui to the nomination centre yesterday morning pointed out another winning factor: Almost half of Indera Kayangan's voters are female and Oui will be able to attract their support.

Meanwhile, Khoo, when asked about Oui's chances, declined to comment beyond saying, "I have known her since we were young, even before we became teachers."

Observers say Khoo's performance will depend on how he is able to tantalise voters with relevant issues during the nine-day campaign period which started yesterday. Failing which, they say, support for Keadilan will dwindle to a trickle.

Yesterday, Perlis Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim said Keadilan is bankrupt of issues. He also accused the party of dabbling in dirty politics by using his three-year-old son's death as a campaigning topic.

During a speech last night, Keadilan Malacca Youth leader Muhammad Zahid Md Arip was reported to have said the tragedy befell Shahidan so that he could feel the anguish felt by jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's father who was forced to separate with his son.

In view of all this, a number of questions are being asked: Is Keadilan fatigue of election ideas? Is the party unable to go beyond espousing abstract issues such as human rights, democracy, freedom of speech, etc.?

More importantly, will the party's perpetual appeal to release Anwar from prison be a sore point with the people of Perlis, whose concept and knowledge of such localised issues are diverse and elusive?

On the other hand, DAP has also been proclaiming that the Indera Kayangan election campaign will be tarnished by the Islamic state factor being championed by PAS.

However, Khoo disagrees. "It is hardly an issue here," he said, adding that the local Chinese community has not questioned him about Keadilan's stand on the matter and it was simply at the "intellectual and academic" level.

Checks and balances

Speaking about what he hopes to achieve, Khoo divulged a cliche saying he will not be able to change the government but as an opposition state assembly representative he will be able to provide the checks and balances.

To begin with, Khoo said he intends to provide a service centre for the local people should he obtain office.

Next, he will raise several local issues such as ways to reduce the congestion on Jalan Kangar, the main road, as this has badly affected businesses there.

The state government's takeover of a plot of land owned by the local Hokkien Association will also be highlighted by the opposition in pre-dominantly Chinese areas.

According to Khoo, the land was bought to build a police station. That was later demolished to give way to a three-storey commercial building.

"We don't mind if the land is used for public service like building a hospital or library but not for commercial purpose," he said.

The Hokkien Association has another foul-smelling grouse which is the recent construction of a sewerage plant outside its building. Khoo calls it "a disgrace which reflects the government's lack of morals".

The recent collapse of local businesses due to rules and regulations imposed by the state government without consulting the people, will also be raised.

"These boil down to simple matters like confiscating people's belongings when they are placed in the five-foot way in front of shop lots. These five-foot ways belong to the shop owners," said Khoo.

Asked about Malay votes, Khoo replied: "Most of them are PAS members for 30 years and they do not change their stand overnight".