BALIK PULAU – Having learnt a bitter lesson from the heavy defeats sustained during the past three general elections in Penang, Barisan Nasional (BN) has unveiled a fresh lineup for the upcoming federal polls in the state with almost 80% new faces.
State BN chairman Datuk Seri Musa Sheikh Fadzir said that the new young individuals will make BN an appealing force in the state, as the coalition hopes to put up a better fight against Pakatan Harapan (PH).
BN only won one parliamentary seat and two state seats in the last election in May 2018. Penang will not be holding its state poll during the 15th general election (GE15) polling day.
For starters, Penang BN will now adopt a strategy of fielding a “friends of BN” lineup with two popular Indian candidates and one Chinese candidate from lesser known BN-friendly parties. These are the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party, Parti Cinta Malaysia, and Indian Progressive Front.
He assured that BN candidates who win will be geared towards performance-based service.
“For MPs who win their seats, they must submit to Penang BN their performance report cards at the constituencies every three months,” Musa told a press conference at the Lexis Suites Hotel here today.
Each report card must show how many constituents the MP has served, type of assistance rendered, and how many households are helped, he said.
Daily welfare activities in the MPs’ service centres must also be recorded, he added.
“Gone are the days when MPs were staying in Kuala Lumpur while serving their constituents in Penang. Unless they are selected to the national cabinet, they should be based in their home constituencies in Penang," he added.
Musa said that the state needs professional elected representatives. It needs not just preachers but doers too.
Heading the list of candidates is the two-term incumbent Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who will defend the Umno stronghold of Kepala Batas.
Among those touted to perform well is former state opposition leader Datuk Yusoff Mohd Noor who is slotted in Tasek Gelugor, and Makkal Sakti president Datuk R. Thanenthiran who is vying in Nibong Tebal.
Tan Chuan Hong, an MCA grassroots leader, is taking on DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng who has been MP for the last three terms in his stronghold of Bagan.
Another candidate, Huan Xin Yun, a Friends of BN member, will contest the Bukit Bendera seat.
His father is PCM president Huan Cheng Guan, a former Gerakan vice-president.
Upstart Saw Yee Fung of MCA received the loudest applause upon being introduced as he is among the youngest candidates at the age of 33 years.
Saw will be fielded in Bayan Baru where she will likely be the only rose among thorns, taking on incumbent Sim Tze Tzin of Pakatan Harapan (PH), Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun of Warisan, Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong of Perikatan Nasional (PN) and independent Myocho Kan, a non-government organisation activist.
The others in the BN line up are Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said (Permatang Pauh), Tan Yang Pang (Bukit Mertajam), Tan Lee Huat (Batu Kawan), Tan Kim Nee (Tanjong), Datuk T. Loganathan (Jelutong), Wong Chin Chong (Bukit Gelugor), and Umno grassroots strongman Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah (Balik Pulau).
Meanwhile, Musa described PH Penang government as selfish for wasting taxpayers’ money by insisting to not hold state polls during GE15.
“They have placed a bigger burden on the people who will be forced to spend more to fulfil their democratic obligations during the times of rising living costs,” he said, referring to holding the federal state polls at different periods.
Musa said that BN will ensure PH pays the price for ignoring many of its promises made in the past, including alleviating worsening traffic congestion. – The Vibes, November 3, 2022.
