REGAINING control of Penang might be out of its reach but Barisan Nasional is confident that it can reclaim at least five state and two federal seats it lost to Pakatan Harapan in the last two elections.

The five state seats are Sungai Bakap, Penanti, Permatang Pasir, Seberang Jaya and Batu Maung, while the two parliamentary seats are Permatang Pauh and Nibong Tebal.

Penang Umno will also fight to retain its 10 state seats – just a quarter of the 40 state seats in the PH-controlled legislative assembly. PH party DAP holds 19 seats, PKR (10) and PAS (1).

Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman said his party has been working hard to win back the lost seats, continuing its service to the electorate through welfare programmes.

His optimism about gaining five more state seats is based on PAS’ role as a spoiler.

“The opposition bloc is split. PAS is no longer in the (PH) pact. Voters for the opposition will be split after PAS and Amanah,” he said, referring to the splinter party founded by former PAS leaders who opted to continue political cooperation with PH parties.

“We expect PAS to contest all seats that Umno contests. So, in three-cornered fights for seats held by the opposition, Umno-BN may have a slight advantage.

“In the past, PKR won partly because of PAS’ support. But now, no more. So Umno is optimistic about regaining the seats. PKR will only have advantage in seats with many non-Malays,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

BN holds three parliamentary seats in Penang – Kepala Batas, Tasek Gelugor and Balik Pulau. PAS has not revealed how many parliamentary seats it wants to contest, except for PKR-held Permatang Pauh. The Islamist party wants to compete in 20 state seats.

Even with an improved showing, Umno concedes that it will be tough regain Penang, when the federal opposition pact controls three-quarters of the state seats. Umno’s partners Gerakan, MCA and MIC, have failed to regain any seat since the 2008 general election.

For the 14th general election, some of BN’s national leaders have named Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow as the candidate for the chief minister’s post.

Failed promises

On Sunday, Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng both warned supporters not to underestimate BN and take for granted that PH would retain the state for a third term. 

DAP will be defending all of its 19 state seats while PKR is seeking four more seats to its current 10. New PH partners Bersatu will contest in four BN-held seats, while Amanah will compete in two BN seats and Permatang Pasir, which is under PAS.

Umno observer Azizi Safar said Lim and Chow are “playing reverse psychology” because they are worried about losing the popular vote in Penang, which will be a slap to their faces.

Aziz, who was formerly Penang BN executive secretary, said PH might suffer from protest or spoilt votes from among non-Malay and youth voters.

He cited “undelivered promises” by the Penang government that resulted in overdevelopment and environmental problems, such as flash floods, illegally cleared hills, landslides and traffic congestion.

People were also upset about the sale of state land and heritage properties to developers and foreigners, and concerned over mega-reclamation projects, he said.

“The 10 years under Lim’s leadership have not brought as much institutional reform as promised. There is also cronyism in the state government, with DAP leaders from outside Penang given positions in state-linked companies and agencies.

“There is no clear economic policy or programme to boost the Penang economy. What happened to the Penang Paradigm that he used to talk about before the 2013 general election?”

Other issues that may affect support for PH, Azizi said, include the corruption charges against Lim over his Jalan Pinhorn bungalow purchase and the ongoing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission probe into the undersea tunnel and highways project.

“Lim is also seen as having absolute power. He has become dictatorial and even abusive at times.”

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general and PH deputy president, has been described as arrogant by his critics. He is also known for his sharp tongue against his political opponents.

Azizi said there might still be supporters put off by the internal PH squabbling over seats and return of former Umno strongman and prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now leading the opposition. – March 16, 2018.