BATU KAWAN – Ahead of the Penang polls, Chow Kon Yeow has appealed to young voters to turn a deaf ear to political rhetoric on race and religion and to instead focus on Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) track record.
“Focus on what we offer and what we have already achieved. Do not be misled by an array of empty promises or declarations which are too good to be true in the first place,” the chief minister told a press conference after an event to launch a solar PV system for the Design Village Outlet Mall here, last night.
Chow urged the youth to choose candidates from parties who want to deliver quality jobs, are committed to fighting corruption, and who want to build Malaysia as a home for all.
Penang under PH, he said, had helped the youth by creating many jobs, and also provided a good quality of life in the state.
The state emphasised science, technology, engineering, and mathematics so that graduates can enjoy good salaries and sound career prospects, he added.
On quality of life, he acknowledged problems such as traffic congestion and higher living costs, but urged the youth to look at what the state had achieved and what it intends to do for them.
Chow said that Penang had achieved about 47% of its goals in the past five years.
If PH is given the mandate to govern again, Chow said that about 90% of the Vision 2030 master plan to transform Penang into a global intelligent city with emphasis on greenery and the family institution would be attainable by 2025.
“This goal represents what the youth want – good jobs, quality living so they can start a family and one which is attuned to the needs of the environment,” he said.
Penang is expected to dissolve its assembly by Wednesday, and Chow is to seek consent to do so from governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.
Penang has 40 seats in its assembly, and Chow’s remarks to the state’s youth come as analyses indicate that PH could lose up to 12 Malay-majority seats in the state to Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Currently, PH has 36 seats in Penang, PN one and three are vacant after their PN incumbents were forced out for going against the state’s anti-party hopping law. – The Vibes, June 26, 2023
