AMPANG JAYA, April 27 — Having no established public service centre compared to incumbent MPs in their constituencies, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s (PRM) Jenice Lee Ying Ha still continues to serve in her capacity when time and resources allow her to.  

The PRM’s Pandan and Teratai candidate turns 38 on nomination day, which is tomorrow, and is no stranger to those in the Pandan constituency, having served Teratai as an assemblyman under DAP from 2008 to 2013 after winning the seat in GE12.

However, in a predominantly Chinese area that is also a PKR stronghold, Lee admitted she still faced hurdles when it came to familiarising its residents with PRM, especially young voters.

"We have begun distributing leaflets to inform young people of our logo and what we aim to achieve as a new choice to the major political coalitions of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH).

"Some people are not ready for us since we are an outsider but I am confident that with my existing networking and grassroots support, I may be able to make headway in the seats that I am contesting,” she said.

She said PRM’s intentions were genuine and that the party aimed to become a viable Opposition party by acting as a check-and-balance to the federal government.

"Despite our absence for the last 10 years, our party aims are aligned to the Opposition’s and it is very clear-cut that we are not affiliated with BN.

"It is quite unfair for parties outside the two major coalitions to be sidelined and not given a chance to represent the people in the constituency that they are familiar with,” she said.

PRM is a democratic socialist party founded in 1955 and stresses the promotion of progressive values of economic, political and human progress, democracy and basic human rights and unity of the people.

The party’s founder, Ahmad Boestamam, was a Malayan freedom fighter and a member of the Kesatuan Melayu Muda, the first leftist and national political establishment in British Malaya.

Learned and determined

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Lee spent most of her childhood living with a curfew as her parents were under surveillance for their involvement in leftist movements in the late 80s.

She recalled only finding out about her family’s affiliations from her aunt during her adolescence.

"I also remember my mother forbidding me from participating in politics or else I would be disowned,” she said, adding that her parents were very secretive about their past.

Despite her background, her political interests were affirmed during her studies in New Era College where she began her tertiary education in 1998.

"I was voted vice-president of the student union and the position allowed me to organise social movements that let me experience politics.

"At that time, we were very active in championing the rights of those affected by the Nipah virus outbreak in 1998 up to the point that former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik paid us a visit to support our cause,” she said.

A Bachelor of Economics graduate from Sydney University, Lee became active in politics after she helped former Teluk Intan DAP division leader Hew Kuan Yaw campaign in Bukit Gasing when the latter contested the 10th general election in 1999.

After joining DAP in 2000, she became the political secretary of incumbent Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun in 2004 before she was tasked with setting up a party branch in Teratai in preparation for the 2008 polls.

As Teratai DAP chief, her achievements included single-handedly establishing the party’s foothold in Ampang and securing the party’s victory over BN candidate Lum Weng Keong during GE12 in the seat for the first time.

Lee, who is also a former member of human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), managed to obtain a majority of 8,085 votes after 15,563 votes were tallied against Lum’s 7,478 votes.

Her resounding victory allowed her to be appointed as the first woman national deputy president of DAP Socialist Youth and Pandan liaison committee chairman in 2010.

"Spearheading DAP’s election machinery in the Pandan constituency, a stronghold for then-MCA president Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat, who was MP from 1989-2013, was very difficult.

Everything from funding and volunteers to community engagement and grassroots recruitment was achieved within two years through sheer perseverance,” she said.

However, in 2013, she was removed from her position by DAP leadership after accusations of corruption, a claim that she has vehemently denied.

She subsequently lost in Teratai as an Independent in GE13 after only managing to secure 5 per cent of the vote.

Serving the community

Lee said her strategy when it comes to facing off her stronger opponents was simple: Continue to serve the local community with an approachable demeanour.

"It is a little different for me as I operate on a case-by-case basis due to limited funding, but those with concerns can call me anytime or anywhere to discuss an issue.

"However, most of my cases involve high-rise residential issues and grouses with residential joint management boards (JMB) or municipal councillors,” she said.

She cited a case that happened on April 30 last year, when Pandan Terrace condominium residents demanded that their JMB produce overdue account statements and held a protest during their annual general meeting over the board’s unsatisfactory performance.

"I helped them submit a petition to the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council for further action which they were thankful for,” she said.

As for PRM, Lee said the party and Klinik Amal Siti collaborated to launch a free clinic drive in February this year which provides consultation sessions to the elderly and disabled from low-income groups in Taman Nirwana, Ampang.

Should she win either seat, she has vowed to champion issues such as cost of living, youth employment, infrastructure safety and housing problems.

"A federal seat would allow me to raise the matter of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that has burdened the people since its implementation and also the issue of housing where people are still unable to put a roof over their head due to the price.

"As for the Teratai state assembly seat, I will look into bike path safety in Taman Muda as the current path is dangerous for users due to its improper implementation,” she said, adding that she would also propose an employment scheme that would encourage youths to return to their hometown to work.

With BN, PH, PAS and PRM vying for the Pandan constituency, Lee remained confident of her chances, saying there was no need to re-strategise as she accepted the reality of a four-cornered fight.

About 83,857 constituents make up the Pandan constituency with two state assembly seats: Teratai and Pandan Indah.

As one of the few major parliamentary constituencies in Selangor with a Chinese majority at about 48 per cent followed by Malays at 44 per cent and Indians at 7 per cent, PKR’s Rafizi Ramli won the seat with a 26,729-vote majority against BN’s MCA candidate Lim Chin Yee in GE13.

PH recently announced that party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would replace Rafizi as its candidate.

"Perhaps my only challenge is that it would be my first time contesting a parliamentary seat together with a state seat,” Lee said.

"Many of my constituents had expected me to be re-elected but they did not realise that I was not contesting under DAP anymore and only found out after voting for the rocket logo that I was an Independent in the last election.”

Lee hoped her admission into PRM would not affect her current support base and wished others would be accommodating to political parties outside the two main political coalitions.

"People should vote based on the candidate that frequently engages with the community who can and will help them as their elected representative.

"I have never abandoned my constituents, even after losing my seat five years ago. This time, I am back but it is up to the people whether they want to accept PRM because some individuals have the mentality of ‘you are either with us, or against us,’” she said.