TANGGA BATU – Deepavali took on an especially meaningful glow for a family in Taman Cheng Jaya here when Prime Minister's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail paid them a special visit, bringing warmth and cherished memories amid the hectic Melaka state election campaign.
For telecommunications company manager S Navaseellan, 51, who hosted the visit, the occasion was particularly touching as his late mother had been a devoted admirer of Dr Wan Azizah, affectionately known as 'Kak Wan'.
He said his mother would have been overjoyed to welcome Dr Wan Azizah, who is also PKR's advisory council chairman, into their family home, making the visit all the more special for him.
This year's Deepavali preparations, however, had been somewhat challenging as Navaseellan was also serving as the Cheng Perdana Polling District Committee chief, assisting the campaign of Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for Paya Rumput, Datuk Azman Abidin.
He said he had been occupied with campaign duties almost every day over the past two weeks to ensure the election machinery ran smoothly.
"Preparations this year have indeed been somewhat hectic because Deepavali falls during election week. Over the past two weeks, I have been working every day for Datuk Azman Abidin.
"However, everything is still under control and we have managed to make preparations," he said when receiving Dr Wan Azizah's visit alongside Azman at Taman Cheng Jaya here on Monday, Nov 9.
Navaseellan said the visit carried a special emotional significance because of the admiration his late mother had for Dr Wan Azizah. She is also the Bandar Tun Razak MP.
"My mother was a devoted admirer of Kak Wan. If she were still alive and could see Kak Wan coming to this house, she would certainly be very happy.
"Whenever Kak Wan appeared on television or her name was mentioned, my mother would stop whatever she was doing and immediately sit in front of the television.
"Mother had great respect for Kak Wan because of her strength and resilience in facing life when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was in prison," he said.
He said his mother passed away two years ago.
The visit was initially planned for Navaseellan's own home but was later moved to his parents' residence to create a more intimate setting and allow the wider local community to share in the occasion.
Meanwhile, Dr Wan Azizah said the visit was also an opportunity to show her support for Azman, whom she described as a loyal and consistent figure in PKR's struggle despite facing various challenges.
She also called on Paya Rumput residents to lend their support to the PH candidate ahead of polling day on Nov 14.
"We want to convey that, if possible, please lend your support, particularly to voters in Paya Rumput. We want to continue efforts to improve residents' standard of living and address areas that can still be improved," she said.
Azman, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for the encouraging response he had received during the week-long campaign, although he hoped the support would translate into votes on polling day.
He said young people accounted for about 30 per cent of voters in Paya Rumput, making their needs and concerns among the issues he had prioritised throughout his campaign.
"Alhamdulillah, the reception has been good so far. We just hope that this positive response will be reflected in the ballot box.
"I also believe the needs of young voters must be taken into account and issues concerning them are among the matters I need to address if I am given the mandate to serve as the elected representative here," he said.