JOHOR BARU: More affordable housing and promoting eco-tourism in Bekok will be among the objectives its new assemblyman Tan Chong aims to fulfil.

       He added that he will seek help from the authorities to build more affordable homes for the local residents, especially young adults, as well as developing the constituency’s eco-tourism sector.

       Tan, 57, who is Labis MCA deputy chief, said back in 2016, the division launched a programme called Jom Balik Bekok (Let’s Go Back to Bekok), which attracted tourists to the area. He added that at least 30 busloads of tourists came here daily at the time.

       However, he said when Pakatan Harapan won the state seat and Labis parliamentary seat in 2018, the tourism initiatives were not given attention.

       Tan said he will carry out the pledges stated in his election manifesto, such as reviving eco-tourism promotional programmes.

       He also plans to set up mobile service centres in Bekok, Chaah and Labis to provide more efficient service.

       Tan, who previously contested the seat in 2013 and 2018 and lost, said he has never given up on his quest to serve the people in Bekok.

       He said he would carry on with his work to provide services to the people, such as providing medical equipment, financial aid and resolving public complaints.

       “When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Labis MCA division chief Datuk Chua Tee Yong and I approached the Health Ministry to set up a vaccination centre for the Labis area.

       “We managed to set up the centre so that it will be convenient for the locals to receive their Covid-19 vaccination without having to travel all the way to Segamat town to get inoculated,” he said.

       Tan said he was thankful for the support shown to him by the voters of Bekok.

       “I will prove to the people that they have made the right choice of choosing me as their representative as I believe that they realised that I was still working for the people here despite my loss in the previous elections.

       “Now that I have won, I will work even harder to give them the best service that I can,” he added.

       In the March 12 Johor polls, Tan received 7,036 votes in a four-cornered fight against M. Kanan of Pakatan Harapan, who received 3,467 votes, followed by Datuk Tan Lek Khang of Perikatan Nasional (2,881) and Parti Warisan Sabah’s A. Sandara Segaran (330).