A Walkabout With A Giant-Killer

A Walkabout With A Giant-Killer
K W Waran
Malaysia Today - 21 March 2008

It was a lovely sunny morning in Ipoh, Saturday 15th March 2008 as I waited for the newly elected MP for Sungai Siput, YB Dr. Michael Jayakumar Devaraj, in front of the SMJK Yuk Choy along Jalan Kuala Kangsar.

He arrived at 7.30am as promised. I went out to greet him and he humbled me by coming out himself to greet me halfway.

We left for and arrived at the office in Sg. Siput where all the party members were already there waiting for him. He greeted everybody and had a brief meeting with some senior members before we all left together to go to various areas in and around Sg. Siput in several cars and motorcycles.

Upon reaching the respective areas, the YB stopped briefly to meet and thank each and every person regardless of age comprising all those on their daily chores of marketing and shopping, including patrons and owners of coffee shops, restaurants, mini-markets, etc, all long time residents there. The response of people were at best described as CORDIAL. The YB and his dedicated team distributed A LETTER OF THANKS written in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil Languages that also contained telephone contact numbers of the YB and some of his key members for them to make contacts on any matters affecting them.

Many passing by also took the trouble to stop their vehicles some distance away to come over to congratulate the YB and his team members too. Their happiness too were genuinely portrayed through their facial expression and body language and one thing very significant is that they all harboured and lay very HIGH hopes on the newly elected MP. They were confident that the YB would steadfastly work very hard to deliver as he had promised.

Many locals I spoke to also confirmed that they have frequently seen him and his team doing a multitude of social and community development work for the people of the area over the last ten years and that too in spite of having lost twice. I could see the YB visibly touched by their overwhelming reception.

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