GEORGE TOWN – A Gerakan veteran has raised the red flag over Penang, warning that it is a key state for grabs in the next general election despite reports indicating that the incumbent Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration will continue to rule the state for a fourth legislative term.
Wong Mun Hoe said that politics in this era of uncertainty is fluid and there are many factors that can unhinge the status quo.
Reacting to academics reportedly saying that the incumbents would once again win Penang with ease, Wong said that voters tend to keep their choice of votes close to their hearts.
The most telling factor going into the next election is the “overstaying” factor, which now inhibits DAP, which is seeking to lead PH as the government for the fourth term.
DAP is unable to deliver anything realistically exciting other than promises of grandeur projects, he said in an interview.
Wong is a former Pantai Jerejak assemblyman and was once state Gerakan election campaign director. He has been active with the party since the 1980s.
“People may just want a change. Any change does not mean that they vote for the other side. They can remain passive and not vote. A low voter turnout may not favour DAP,” he said.
“I think we have heard of the pendulum swing. It may not cost DAP to lose the state but the coalition which they represent, PH, may lose more seats than expected. People are simply fed up with DAP’s unfulfilled promises.”
Wong said PH may retain the state but lose its two-thirds majority in the assembly.
“This is why DAP is happy that the anti-party hopping legislation was enacted first in Penang and now in Parliament.
“But without a strong majority, the incoming new government would not be effective in governing. This is a fact,” he said.
Citing the Penang Transport Master Plan as an example, Wong said that other than certain reclamation projects being completed, there is little else for the DAP-led state government to show other than local government initiatives.
“Where are the highways promised? At least they should show some earthworks as evidence of work progress. Residents here have always possessed a critical mindset,” he said.
Malay ground swung back to Umno?
Wong also claimed that like any other political party DAP has cliques, but unlike in previous elections, the split between the various factions is now quite apparent.
Some quarters are speculating that Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is the state DAP chief, is unnerved by the exponential rise of other party leaders, he added.
Then, there is PKR, which has yet to recover after many leaders betrayed their “reformasi” cause to join their bitter rivals.
“There is serious doubt that PKR can repeat its performance in the 2018 general election. They also do not have a strong base of support, Wong said.
“They are reliant on fence sitters mostly. But if the pendulum is against them, where would the votes come from?”
Currently, PH has 33 out of the 40 state seats, and 10 out of the 13 Parliament ones.
Wong claims that the Malay ground has effectively swung back to the traditional base of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN), judging from state-level victories in Melaka and Johor, besides the sweep by BN allies in Sabah and Sarawak.
So, BN can at least stake claim half of the 40 state seats in Penang, which have Malay majority voters. What about the other half, especially when there are multi-cornered fights in many seats, asked Wong.
Asked about the fact that BN has not named a possible chief ministerial candidate, Wong replied that BN may just spring a surprise later, or nominate a Malay candidate, which would make them even more amenable to the Malay electorate.
Importing of leaders has happened before. DAP has done it, so BN can aspire too, he said.
But leadership positions can become secondary when the fight is simply over which party can survive the sternest test ever in the Malaysian political system, said Wong.
“Once the dust is settled, it is up to the winners to decide who is best to lead them, their state as well as country,” he said. – The Vibes, August 13, 2022
