Penang Front Party formed to challenge DAP in state, says party
A group of 44 Chinese non-governmental organisations have come together to form a new political party called the “Penang Front Party” to challenge the DAP, which is heading the Penang government.
The party has declared itself “Barisan Nasional friendly” and has even shortlisted three candidates to contest the Bukit Gelugor by-election next month, said spokesperson Saw Chong Tatt.
"We want to see how voters in Penang – namely Bukit Gelugor – will receive our new party. If the response is positive, we will field candidates in 15 to 17 state seats held by DAP in the next general election.
"Penang needs to be helmed by a Penangite and we have many capable locals. We had a prime minister from Penang. The opposition leader (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) is also a local boy.
"It is not like we have no Penang-bred Chinese capable of being the chief minister," he said, taking a swipe at the present Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was born in Johor.
Saw said in Bayan Baru this morning that DAP was not interested in fighting for Penangites and what the party had been doing was selling off Penang land.
"The party has been selling off land for luxury condos, apartments and homes for the rich and foreigner while many locals can hardly afford to own homes.
"Development tax, water tariffs, parking fees and other payments to the state government and authorities have all increased under DAP. Unemployment is up and job opportunities are few," he said.
PFP said it was a multiracial party with a mission to "save Penang from becoming a political tool of the DAP to fulfil their political ambitions”.
"Our agenda is to fight for the people and to ensure Penang is developed on a par with other states. We will criticise what is not right for the state," Saw said, adding that they would register the party today.
Padang Besar MP Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, who was present as the party's adviser, said MCA could not win in Bukit Gelugor.
He said PFP had sought his advice on setting up the new political party. He denied funding them.
The Bukit Gelugor by-election is from May 12 to May 25. The seat fell vacant after Karpal Singh, who was former DAP national chairman, was killed in an accident on the North-South Expressway near Kampar, Perak, on April17.
The seat is a DAP stronghold.
DAP is holding its central executive committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur later today to discuss on the candidate for the by-election. – April 28, 2014.
