GEORGE TOWN – The political climate in Penang at present is a stark contrast to 1995 when Sabah-based Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) had sought to contest for seats here during the general election then, said former Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi.
While PBS was convincingly beaten in 1995, newly appointed Warisan state coordinator Jeff Ooi believes that the new party can make an impact in the peninsula, especially here where voters are notoriously critical.
“The people have more choices now, especially the youth who are also fed up with old parties that have brought the country to a standstill with their old politics.”
Ooi told The Vibes that the DAP-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition that rules Penang has become dysfunctional as its leadership has been compromised through a series of defections, internal bickering, and legal matters.
“It will show up in their inability to govern effectively, especially when they are caught up in a battle for votes among Malay-based parties."
“It has also eroded their ability to lead and importantly to regain acceptance,” he said.
Sabah-based Warisan, under the leadership of Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, has begun to slowly make its mark in the peninsula by recruiting former DAP stalwarts Ooi and Datuk Danny Law Heng Kiang to join its cause.
Warisan, a former ally of PH during the 2018 general election, successfully dethroned Barisan Nasional after 61 years.
Fundamentally, Warisan aims to instil multi-ethnic politics rather than the race or religion-driven ideologies of its rival coalition such as BN and Perikatan Nasional.
Both Ooi and Law were formerly elected representatives for DAP.
Ooi was also once a coveted candidate for PH supporters due to his pioneering status as a micro-blogger.
“We have also used data analytics to track demographics and trends.
“We are definitely more lethal now compared to the politics of 35 years ago,” he said in response to whether Warisan can make an impact in the DAP stronghold of Penang.
Meanwhile, Penang Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) chairman Alan Oh also sees room for newly formed parties to do well in the state, despite PH’s rule for the last three terms.
“I think PH has made mistakes and voters could punish them.”
Once a PKR grassroot leader, Oh will now lead a team of former PKR members who fell out with party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim due to their support for his former deputy Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who has since gone on to join Bersatu.
Oh is also set to unveil his state leadership line-up today. – The Vibes, January 24, 2022
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