Shift in people’s support gives BN confidence to clinch more seats
Sunday, February 19, 2012
BALIK PULAU: AFTER being on the receiving end for almost three years, Barisan Nasional has hit back at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin declaring the coalition was set to redeem itself in Penang.
The deputy prime minister said BN leaders would work harder to recapture more seats in Penang as there was an evident shift in the people's support for the coalition.
He said BN had also outlined various strategies to win more seats and identified several constituencies that it stood a good chance of winning.
"There are constituencies where we lost by a small margin. The new wave of support for us can help us win these seats," he said after a meet-the-people luncheon in Kampung Permatang Tepi yesterday.
Present were his wife, Puan Seri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, and state BN leaders.
(In the last general election, BN only won 11 out of the 40 state seats, with Umno being the sole party represented in the state assembly. Gerakan and MCA lost in all the state seats contested).
Muhyiddin also had some words for Lim, who has been going around claiming all the credit for the development in Penang.
He said Lim had only been the chief minister for three years, but he had become a very arrogant and aloof leader.
Muhyiddin said Lim refused to acknowledge what the previous BN-led administration had done to develop the island state.
"This is not only coming from BN supporters, but the people in general. Lim Guan Eng thinks he is smarter than everyone else.
"He goes around saying Penang has developed like magic in just three years all because of him.
"He just refuses to acknowledge what the previous administration under Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon has done. But Penang people are not blind or don't know what the actual situation is."
Asked on Lim's style of constantly threatening to sue those who questioned him, Muhyiddin said: "That is just it... it just shows how aloof and arrogant he is. This is not what I am saying. It is from the people. It is okay if he is angry with me (for saying this).
"This is what Penangites are telling me. This is how Guan Eng 'rules'. He does not govern or manage the state, but 'rules' it."
Earlier, the BN deputy chairman and Umno deputy president held three closed-door meetings with state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, the Penang Umno liason committee and state BN leaders.
Meanwhile, Bernama reports that Muhyiddin said teachers would not get automatic promotions, but must also undergo interviews and other relevant processes.
Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the method of promotion for teachers would be finalised after meetings between the government and the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services were concluded.
Qouted From: The New Straits Times
