By Ashwin Kumar
HEADING the Selangor Investment, Industry and Trade, Small and Medium Industries Committee portfolio, Datuk Teng Chang Khim has been the state representative of Bandar Baru Klang since 2004. From overseeing the financial matters of the state government to providing solutions for the Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) project in his constituency, the law graduate shares some insight on how he juggles between managing the state’s affairs and developing a business and an industrial town.
Selangor Journal (SJ): What is the main industry in your constituency?
Datuk Teng Chang Khim (TCK): Klang is a business and an industrial hub because of its location. We are known as Malaysia’s largest seaport, which is Port Klang.
SJ: What are some of the concerns that are regularly raised by your constituents and how do you plan to address them?
TCK: The people under my constituency always raise issues concerning “infra” matters because of the ongoing LRT3 construction in Klang. There will be eight LRT3 stations in Klang and they will cut through the heart of the city and Klang town itself. I have received numerous complaints on road maintenance and flash flood issues due to the construction work. Klang is an old town, so the whole city was designed many years ago. The infrastructure and drainage systems need major upgrading and it is a big challenge for the local authority. But we receive sufficient allocation from the Federal government for road upgrading and maintenance.
SJ: What is the main attraction in your constituency?
TCK: My constituency is famous for its food, especially street food. Klang is known as one of the oldest towns in Malaysia. It is rich in history, tradition and customs. So, we are embarking on a mission with local authorities and NGOs to promote Klang as a heritage town for tourism.
SJ: What are some of your achievements in the constituency?
TCK: I think upgrading facilities such as public parks, pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes were some of my notable efforts in creating a comfortable zone for the people in Kajang. I was also the chairman of the technical committee of the LRT3 project where I had the opportunity to make proposals for where each of the LRT stations will be located. I am grateful for being able to contribute some of my ideas to the project.
SJ: Can you share with us some of your problem-solving methods?
TCK: I have been maintaining my service centre since the day we embarked on our political journey 20 years ago and I have never stopped the practice of meeting with my voters every Wednesday evening. We have four staff in the service centre to cater to the voters’ needs during office hours on weekdays. I am known to be efficient when it comes to solving problems. To me, I think I managed to understand the state government structure and mechanism well since the day I started serving the people. Within the government, I am known to be the “Solution Man”, and I hope that explains a bit about me.
