Teluk Intan ready for nomination day

Teluk Intan, famed for its very own 'leaning tower', is getting busier by the day as it gears itself for its parliamentary constituency by-election.

As nomination day is today and polling slated for May 31, almost all hotels and homestays are fully occupied with supporters from the various political parties streaming into the town for the big day.

Barisan Nasional (BN) supporter Amannullah Mustapha, 43, from Segamat, Johor who is setting foot in Teluk Intan for the first time, found the town peaceful and quiet.

Meanwhile, Penangite, S. Mohan Kumar, 29, was in the town to assist the DAP candidate did not waste any time. He visited the famed leaning clock tower in the centre of town.

For Teluk Intan residents, the congestion in town was felt since last week for the Cittirai Pournami festival which ended on Sunday.

Shopkeeper Lim Ah Keong, 57, welcomed the bustling change and hoped more would take the opportunity to visit Teluk Intan.

For him, the sudden influx of visitors was good for traders and the town's economy, albeit only for a few weeks.

However, local resident Johari Baharuddin, 43, hoped traders would not take advantage of the endless flow of visitors by raising prices of food and services.

"We often hear that when a by-election such as this is held, traders will raise prices to make a killing, which will only burden the poor residents," he said.

Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong is the BN candidate while DAP is fielding Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.