AFTER five days on the campaign trail, Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow has found the people to be more interested in the fate of the federal government.

There was much more interest in what would happen in Putrajaya over what was in store for Penang, which has been under opposition control since the 2008 polls, said the caretaker Penang local government exco.

“I have been campaigning in Tanjung for the last five days. The response (to Penang PH) from the people this election is as warm as in the 2013 polls.

“But people are not interested in the outcome of the state election… the old folks are not discussing the state election. 

“The people are just more interested in what will become of Putrajaya,” he said at last night’s PH mega ceramah at Han Chiang School that was attended by some 10,000 people.

“I could be wrong but maybe this means voters think the Penang PH government will be retained.

“So the big question now is whether we will make it this time, defeat (caretaker prime minister) Najib Razak and Barisan Nasional on May 9,” said Chow, who is contesting the Tanjung parliamentary and Padang Kota state seats.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is contesting the Pantai Jerejak state seat in Penang, said the 14th general election was a fight between the people and BN, and Malaysians’ best chance to change the federal government.

“This is not about (PH leaders) Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah (Wan Ismail) and Mat Sabu fighting Najib.

“The fight is between Malays, Chinese, Indians – Malaysians - against BN. This is our best chance, so don’t let it slip by. Otherwise we will have to wait another five years. 

“Don’t lose your MyKad (on polling day),” he said.

Other speakers at the ceramah were PH candidates Zairil Khir Johari (Tanjung Bungah), Lim Siew Khim (Sungai Pinang), Jagdeep Singh Deo (Datuk Keramat), R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong), caretaker chief minister Lim Guan Eng (Bagan and Air Putih) and Lim Kit Siang (Iskandar Puteri). – May 2, 2018.