GEORGE TOWN: Barisan Nasional may not be able to retake Penang but can create an impact by winning more seats than in 2008, said state MCA Wanita chief Tan Cheng Liang.
“We are not talking about taking over Penang but winning more seats which will be a breakthrough. You have to understand, MCA, Gerakan and MIC lost all their seats. We have zero representation in the state,” she said.
“The loser mentality gripped us in 2008 because we ruled the state and suddenly, it was gone. So, if we win a few more seats, we can consider it a win for BN.”
Tan said that leading Barisan Nasional in Penang was not an enviable task because the state BN chief was expected to win back the state at a time when DAP had become stronger.
She said it would be an uphill battle for newly-appointed state BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow to win Penang back from Pakatan Rakyat, although there were numerous grouses about its style of governance.
“It is not going be easy for Chang Yeow. I can imagine the responsibility on his shoulders,” she said.
However, she was confident he would be able to do a good job.
Tan said Chang Yeow, who was the Gerakan secretary-general, had the criteria required for the job, “which is youth and experience”.
Penang BN working committee chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said it was not correct for state DAP secretary Ng Wei Aik to say that Chang Yeow would become a “figurehead” for Umno.
“If Umno wanted a figurehead, they would have suggested one of their own instead of a Gerakan leader. There is no taiko (boss) concept in Penang BN. The Opposition simply loves to tarnish our image,” he said.
Teng said PR would keep make disparaging remarks about the appointment “no matter who leads BN in Penang”.
“The appointment of a Gerakan man showed BN's honesty and trust in us despite losing all our seats in 2008 while Umno won 11,” he said.
“They honoured our forefather's words and respected our contribution over the past 40 years by appointing one of us.”
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced Chang Yeow as the state BN chief on Sunday.