Lau Hoi Keong, the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Ketari state seat, is able to draw a smile from Indian voters because they are impressed with his eloquence in their native tongue.
Lau said he learned Tamil while growing up with his single mother at a rubber estate in Kerling, Hulu Selangor. His father died when he was in Form Three.
“I still remember my mother’s advice: If you want to change your destiny, the only way is through education.
“This is true as my experience in Malaysia, China and Taiwan has shown life can be changed through education,” he said.
Graduating with a degree in Politics and Economy of Southeast Asia from Universiti Malaya, Lau also excelled in sports. The former Selangor footballer was almost selected for the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, in 1992.
Lau said he was a foster child to an Indian family.
“Not only that, I have also been a foster child to the Temuan tribe of the Orang Asli in Bukit Broga (Semenyih) and the Malays in Pasir Mas, Kelantan.
“I learnt their culture and language.”
Lau, who had been a BN candidate for the Kepong parliamentary constituency in GE12, said language played an important role in social networking, especially as a people’s representative.
“When we are able to master many languages, we come closer to the community. We are able to listen to their grouses and aspirations as well as proposals for the community.”
He said as a person who came from a poor family, he was confident of using his experience to improve the socio-economic status of the community in the state constituency.
Lau is the chairman of Gerakan’s Public Complaints Bureau. Campaigning with the slogan “Bersamamu Ketari”, he wants to prioritise education and improve the skills and marketability of the younger generation.
He also wants to upgrade the infrastructure in the constituency.
Lau will be facing PAS’ Roslan Md Esa and PKR’s Syefura Othman (also known as Rara).
In the GE13, BN’s candidate Woo Choo Yak defeated DAP’s candidate Lee Chin Chen with a majority of 2,140 votes.
The Ketari state constituency has 23,506 voters, with 5% Indian voters, Chinese 47%, Malays 46% and the rest comprising others.