DAP knows that it cannot rely on voters’ anger against the federal government to stay in power, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

To him, this is evident after three terms of DAP rule in Penang.

“Results matter when expecting support for the state government,” said Chow, who is also Penang DAP chairman.

He took over from DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng the chief minister position in May 2018, after Pakatan Harapan (PH) won federal power.

Chow said DAP must keep pace with the times and double down on its struggle to consolidate voter support.

“The state government needs to perform. The most important thing is for the people to approve our policies and see advancements in the state.”

DAP and its allies only lasted 22 months in federal power before being ousted by Perikatan Nasional through defections and plotting, involving Bersatu under current Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and several former PKR leaders.

While in federal power, the PH cabinet had been criticised for its inexperience, with the majority of ministers and deputies in government for the first time.

PH was swept to power in 2018, ending six decades of Barisan Nasional rule, on the back of voters’ anger against alleged corruption involving former prime minister Najib Razak and 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandals.

Now, after its ouster, sentiment is stirred up again over the corruption and abuse of power charges against Lim related to the state’s undersea tunnel project when he was Penang chief minister.

In four days, DAP managed to collect RM2.9 million, and nearly RM4 million within a week, in a donation drive to pay for Lim’s bail.

The minimum donation amount is RM10.

DAP had said the charges were politically motivated, noting that to date, not a sen had been paid for the RM6 billion project that was awarded through open tender.

Lim’s wife, Betty Chew and their former landlady Phang Li Khoon were also charged.

Chew was hit with money-laundering charges while Phang faced graft charges.

Chow said DAP cannot rely on such circumstances all the time to oppose the federal government.

The party should instead win over the people through its achievements in Penang, by letting results speak for themselves.

“Those who support DAP now may not support the party forever.

“We have been in government for three terms, we cannot keep relying on the people’s ill feelings towards the federal government.

“It can help us for a while, but the important thing is the people see that the state is performing.

“Even though the federal government is not under our control, the state government must continue to take care of the people and push for local development.

“It is by safeguarding the people’s interests that we can win their support,” said Chow. – August 22, 2020.