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, especially for young adults, as well as developing the eco-tourism.

       Tan, 57, who is Labis MCA division 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.

       However, he said when Pakatan Harapan won the state seat and Labis parliamentary seat in 2018, the tourism initiatives were ignored.

       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 in Labis.

       “We managed to set up a centre for locals to receive their Covid-19 vaccination without having to travel all the way to Segamat,” he said.

       Tan said he is thankful for the support shown by Bekok voters.

       “I will prove to the people that they have made the right choice as I believe they know 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,” 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).