IT IS a race of medical doctors in Perak as political parties slug it out in the 13th general election.
Heading the list of nine medical doctors in the state are prominent heart doctors such as surgeon Dr Ko Chung Sen and cardiologists Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and Dr Lee Boon Chye.
Dr Ko, 44, who is DAP’s candidate for Kampar is from the Ipoh Specialist Hospital (ISH) and a first-timer.
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He will lock horns with MCA’s Datuk Lee Chee Leong.
(Interestingly, Lee’s wife Datin Dr Karen Lee Sieng Shuen is also a medical doctor and has a clinic in Ipoh).
In his 50’s, Dr Lee who is also from ISH, is defending the Gopeng parliamentary seat.
Dr Mah, 48, was also with the same hospital before he became a full-time politician four years ago. He is defending his Chenderiang state seat.
Well, it looks like heart patients in ISH have to be extra patient while their doctors slug it out at elections.
All candidates, whatever profession they are in, will go all out to win the hearts and minds of their voters after nomination today.
There are 24 parliamentary seats and 59 state seats in Perak. Polling is on May 5.
Of the nine medical doctors, MCA, PAS and PKR have two each, and one each from DAP, Umno and PSM.
The doctors from MCA are Dr Mah and Dr Cheng Wei Yee, a first-timer and he is vying the Ipoh Barat parliamentary seat.
Meanwhile Dr Khairuddin Abdul Malek and Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad from PAS are contesting the Pengkalan Baru and Belanja state seats respectively.
Besides Dr Lee, the other doctor from PKR is Dr Meor Ahmad Isharra Ishak who is contesting the Padang Rengas parliamentary seat.
Umno’s Bagan Serai parliamentary seat candidate Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali is also a medical doctor. He is going for a straight fight with PKR’s Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty who holds a doctorate.
PSM’s candidate for Sungai Siput is Dr D. Michael Jeyakumar, who is a chest doctor.
Meanwhile, there are also candidates from both sides of the political divide who hold the “Dr” title but are PhD holders.
Among them are PAS’ Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Dr Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah who are contesting the Parit Buntar and Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seats respectively while PKR’s Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew is vying for the Tanjung Malim parliamentary seat.
The Umno candidates with PhD include Dr Muhammad Amin Zakaria (Batu Kurau state seat), Dr Zabri Abdul Wahid (Trong state seat), Drs Mohd Nizar Zakaria (Belanja state seat ) and Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datok parliamentary seat).
Among lawyers in the race are DAP’s Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (Beruas parliamentary seat), Nga Kor Ming (Taiping parliamentary seat), M. Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat parliamentary seat), Wong Kah Woh (Canning state seat) and Sivanesan Achalingam (Sungkai state seat).
The engineers include PAS’ Datuk Seri Muhammad Nizar Jamaluddin and PKR’s Chang Lih Kang who are contesting the Changkat Jering state seat and Teja state seat respectively.
Impressive credentials aside, all eyes are on who would be victorious in their goal come May 5.
