Little excitement over regaining Penang

Intelligence reports say BN may wrest Penang from the opposition in the next national polls but this is not stirring much interest.

GEORGE TOWN: Not all Barisan Nasional (BN) politicians are over-excited with the prospects of regaining the lost Penang government in the next general election.

MCA state secretary Lau Chiek Tuan is among them who believes BN should embark on a “deny two-thirds” election campaign rather than pursue an ambitious grand plan of recapturing the state administration.

He said BN stood a better chance of increasing its current 11 state seats in the next national polls with the “deny two-thirds” strategy.

“People may consider strengthening the opposition to check and balance the state government.
“But, if BN were to battle with Pakatan Rakyat to recapture the state government, it will backfire,” said Lau.

He dismissed intelligence reports predicting that BN stands a good chance of regaining the state government.

BN sources claimed that the reports have identified at least 25 constituencies as winnable seats – 15 on the mainland and 10 on the island.

Shocking results

Lau said the same intelligence reports had also predicted that BN would retain the state government in the 2008 general election.

“But the results were shocking… we were wiped out,” he told FMT here today.

In the 2008 general election, BN won 11 out of the 40 state and two out of 13 federal seats, all through Umno. Gerakan, MCA and MIC were all swept away.

BN sources told FMT recently that intelligence reports have identified the winnable mainland seats as Bagan Dalam (Bagan); Berapit and Machang Bubok (Bukit Mertajam); Bertam, Penaga and Pinang Tunggal (Kepala Batas); Teluk Air Tawar, Permatang Berangan and Sungai Dua (Tasek Gelugor); Penanti, Permatang Pasir and Seberang Jaya (Permatang Pauh); and Jawi, Sungai Bakap and Sungai Acheh (Nibong Tebal).

On the island, the reports have marked down Sungai Pinang and Datuk Keramat (Jelutong); Seri Delima and Air Itam (Bukit Gelugor); Batu Uban, Pantai Jerejak and Batu Maung (Bayan Baru); and Bayan Lepas, Pulau Betong and Teluk Bahang (Balik Pulau).

The reports have also boosted Penang BN confidence of winning Kepala Batas, Tasek Gelugor, Batu Kawan, Nibong Tebal, Balik Pulau and Bayan Baru parliament seats.

But state Gerakan legal and human rights bureau head Baljit Singh disagreed with the intelligence findings, saying that undercurrent sentiments were very much against BN.

He said people were generally dissatisfied with the Umno-led federal government for its lack of reform programmes to transform society.

Contentious issues

He said people were also upset over the lack of decisive actions to resolve contentious issues such as the rising cost of living and religious conversions.

He added that people were also unhappy with the government for mishandling the controversial Interlok issue and Bersih 2.0 rally.

“They were also angry over the detention of six Parti Sosialis Malaysia activists under the Emergency Ordinance,” said Baljit.

He said Gerakan, MCA and MIC may win certain seats in the next election because the people may want non-Umno opposition representatives.

“But at the same time, Umno also can lose their current seats. In the end, the status quo would be retained,” he said.