PENANG – The prospect of voting twice in less than a year has traders here up in arms, with some calling the state government’s move selfish and irresponsible amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
The Pakatan Harapan presidential council’s decision to not dissolve the state assemblies of Penang, Selangor, and Negri Sembilan means these voters must head to the polls on November 19 and again before May 2023, when their assemblies will automatically dissolve.
For hawker Lim Chee Chun, 42, the move was redundant and represented a major waste of money. “At the end of the day, it’s the rakyat’s money that’s going to waste,” he told The Vibes when met at his stall in Sg Dua, Gelugor.
The cost of mobilising both government and party machineries for two separate elections would be enormous and should be put to better use, he said.
The Hokkien mee seller also told The Vibes that he did not believe in DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke’s claim that the decision to not dissolve the state assemblies was so the coalition could appear consistent.
“It’s all for their own benefit, it’s about who wants to hold on to positions for longer,” he said, adding that when someone is unsure of whether they’ll win or lose, they would want to cling on to power for as long as possible.
This sentiment was echoed by fruit seller Goh Weng Aun, 50, who called the move “utterly irresponsible.”
He also hit out at chief minister Chow Kon Yeow’s move to declare November 18, the eve of polling day, a public holiday.
“Of course, employees love it. But what about business owners?” he asked, claiming that many of his friends have complained about the losses they will potentially face as a result of the public holiday.
While acknowledging that it would benefit those living away from their voting areas, he said that the government should have specified it would only apply to those living out of state.
“Like me, I vote 15 minutes away from my house, what do I need the whole day off for?”
Over on the mainland, a bak kut teh seller who wished to be known as Tan said that although the move was extremely troublesome, it was one’s responsibility to go out and vote.
“I’ll have to close my business for at least half a day, but what can I do? It’s my responsibility,” she said when interviewed at her shop in Batu Kawan.
Despite the general discontent, all the traders The Vibes spoke to believed that the controversial decision would not affect Pakatan Harapan’s chances in Penang.
“Penang will still go to the rocket,” said Lee, a trader, referring to the DAP-led Pakatan Harapan government in the state.
He explained that the combination of Penang’s large Chinese population and a “weak opposition” would certainly deliver most of its parliamentary seats to PH.
Additionally, a factor that might solidify PH’s hold on Penang is Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s decision to run for a federal seat.
“He’s brought so much change for us,” said 32-year-old Chew Keng Nam, who resides in Batu Kawan.
Referring to the hundreds of multinational corporations that have recently set up operations in Batu Kawan, Chew said that these businesses have created thousands of jobs for those in the northern region.
“Now that he (Chow) is coming here (to the Batu Kawan seat), it’s definitely going to develop more,” said Chew, who is a village head in Kg Bukit Tambun.
The positive attitude towards PH was also shared by another voter, Goh.
“No, they’re not perfect, but Penang has improved a lot,” he said, explaining that the state had become much “cleaner” and transparent since DAP won it in 2008.
On November 19, Penangites will go to the polls to choose MPs for 13 seats, two of which are held by Barisan Nasional, with PH holding the rest. – The Vibes, November 12, 2022
