KUALA LUMPUR: The saying, "When a tiger dies, it leaves its stripes behind; when a person dies, it leaves their name and deeds" aptly describes former Kuala Kubu Baharu assemblywoman Lee Kee Hiong's tenure representing the constituency since 2013.
Lee left a lasting impact on the hearts of the locals, owing to her charisma and unwavering commitment to serving her constituents.
Despite the predominantly Malay demographic of Kuala Kubu Baharu, Lee, non-Muslim and of Chinese descent, approached her role with a unique blend of care and inclusivity.
Viewed as a politician who transcended ideological divides, she treated all residents fairly and with compassion, earning her the title of community hero.
Speaking to the New Straits Times, Ishak Muhammad, 54, a Masjid Jamek Al Rahimah committee member, said the late Lee would never be forgotten, and no one was as kind as her.
Ishak said while he held different political views from the assemblywoman, he respected the ideal political values she upheld, acknowledging her excellent service to her constituents.
"Honestly, Lee was very good with everyone here and looked after everyone. One thing about Lee is that she didn't discriminate. She would help everyone, regardless of whether they supported her party.
"That was the best thing about her; she was very approachable. If we had any problems, she would immediately allocate funds. The residents here never got angry or disappointed with her," he said.
He said any candidate stepping in to replace Lee must be capable of caring for the local community just as effectively as she did.
Jennis Leong, 50 and owner of a tailoring shop in Kuala Kubu Baharu town, isn't surprised by the locals' deep connection toward the late assemblywoman.
"She used to cruise around town in her car, checking on everyone. Lee played a significant role in developing our town. Without her, who else would have brought about such positive changes?
"Kuala Kubu Baharu town was relatively unknown before. There was little happening here. Most of the recent development in our town is due to her efforts. She's the reason people started noticing this place."
Having lived in Kuala Kubu Baharu for 40 years, Jennis said there were no major concerns and expressed her desire for the area to maintain its peaceful atmosphere despite its diverse population.
"I've lived here for a long time. My family moved here from Port Dickson when I was little. Even though this area is small, we feel comfortable here.
"There's a mix of communities, and sometimes people do their own thing, but there have not been any issues arising. Speaking of Lee, one thing was clear: whatever she did, she did it for the benefit of all of us here."
Meanwhile, a first-time voter who only wanted to be known as Thurga said the late Lee was unlike other politicians, always approachable to everyone regardless of age or status.
"She was quite friendly with the locals here and didn't prioritise her 'own people.' She was a representative for all. That's what made her different from others."
The 21-year-old, who helps her parents run a family-owned shop, expressed gratitude for experiencing the excellent governance displayed by the late assemblywoman.
She hoped that her soon-to-be-appointed successor would strive to follow in her footsteps.
Lee died on March 21 after a battle with cancer. The three-term assemblywoman first won her seat in 2013 after defeating MCA's Ooi Hui Wen with a 1,702-vote majority and defended it in 2018 with a 7,134-vote majority over MCA's Wong Koon Mun.
During the state election last year, Lee retained the seat for DAP with a 4,119-vote majority ahead of Gerakan's Henry Teoh.
The Election Commission (EC) has fixed May 11 for the KKB by-election following Lee's passing.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said the nomination of candidates for the by-election would be held on Apr 27, while early voting is set for May 7.
