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DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng took a swipe at the state's ruling party, Gerakan, for ‘dancing to Umno tune’ if it selects Padang Kota incumbent assemblyperson Teng Chang Yeow to be the next Penang chief minister.
Speaking to a packed rally at the Han Chiang indoor stadium in Penang last night, he said if the speculation was true, it was clear that it was ‘big brother’ Umno and not Gerakan that was in total control of Penang’s Barisan Nasional.
Political observers had noted that Gerakan acting president and outgoing Penang chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon had wanted Pulau Tikus state seat candidate and Gerakan vice-president Dr Teng Hock Nan, 62, as the next CM while Umno preferred Bukit Bendera incumbent MP Chia Kwang Chye, 58.
However, speculation is rife that Koh has bowed to Umno pressure, agreeing to appoint a third candidate as ‘a political compromise’. Thus, the younger Teng emerging as the frontrunner in the race for the coveted post.
"Gerakan could not decide on their own leader so Umno decided for them. Teng Chang Yeow will be a de facto Umno chief minister," Guan Eng told a cheering crowd.
Lim then hit out at BN component parties such as Gerakan, MCA and MIC for `kowtowing' to Umno's hegemony.
"Do you want a DAP elected representative who can stand up and fight against Umno’s political hegemony or those who bow to it?" he asked, prompting the crowd to start chanting ‘DAP, DAP...’
Judging from the size of the crowd at this DAP-PKR joint rally, the general election heat is reaching a fever pitch on the island with just five days left to polling on Saturday.
More than 10,000 people from all races braved a heavy downpour to flood the 5,000-capacity indoor stadium to listen to the DAP and PKR speakers who included Anwar Ibrahim and Karpal Singh. The size of the crowd made this the biggest rally organised by BN’s opponents in Penang thus far.
Turnout not a guarantee
Guan Eng said he thought that Penang voters were not too keen on the opposition due to the low attendance registered at DAP rallies over the past week.
"I thought Penangites were not interested. But now I know you are with us to initiate changes in the country's system of governance," he said.
Anwar, who spoke earlier, told voters that they had no choice but to vote for Barisan Alternatif to safeguard their future.
"The imminent hike in oil prices and other essential household items will eat into your pockets while the ruling elite will continue with their luxury lifestyles.
"Do you want a government which does not care a bit for the people or the good governance of Barisan Alternatif which will protect and enhance the people's rights, interests and benefits," he said to wild cheers from the crowd.
The crowd’s enthusiasm for the opposition speakers was clearly evident judging by their frequent interruptions of the speeches to cheer and clap each time a speaker either drove home a point on justice, freedom and democracy or took a swipe at BN for corruption and disorientated policies.
If the crowd's vocal support were to be translated into votes on March 8, observers note it would not be an exaggeration to say that the opposition would win big at the polls.
However, electoral history has showed - especially after DAP's Tanjung 3 campaign in 1995 which drew mammoth crowds - that large turnouts at opposition ceramah in Penang did not necessarily translate into votes.
Whether or not DAP and PKR have finally caught the imagination of voters here still remains to be seen.
It would not be a shock if Penang voters, predominantly Chinese, were to ignore the opposition and support BN. "They have done it before and they can do it again," said a DAP local leader.
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