DAP’s 18-year record in Penang weakens anti-DAP narrative, says Malik
GEORGE TOWN: The anti-DAP narrative that has gained traction carries less weight in Penang than in other parts of the country, said Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) committee member Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.
He said Penang voters have had 18 years to judge the party by its record in government.
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Malik, a state PKR leader, said voters had been exposed to DAP’s role in administering the state since 2008.
“The usual narrative about DAP doesn’t exist in Penang. The people of Penang already know DAP well,” the former Penang exco told theSun.
“Especially during my time, the DAP initiated a lot of programmes related to Islam and the Malay community,” he said, adding that he was surprised by the party’s enthusiasm in addressing such matters.
He, however, declined to comment on the current working relationship between Barisan Nasional (BN) and PH in the Penang government, saying political cooperation involved a different set of considerations.
On whether PH could retain Penang in the next general election, Malik gave an emphatic answer. “Boleh…!” he said.
Penang BN and state Umno chief Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir had confirmed that it was unanimously decided that BN’s sole exco in the state administration, Sungai Acheh assemblyman Datuk Rashidi Zinol would remain in the state administration.
He had said the BN-DAP cooperation in Penang goes beyond Sungai Acheh, pointing out that both parties are part of the Unity government.
“In Penang, we are within the Unity government, so we have no problem.”
Penang PH agreed to retain the BN executive councillor in the state administration in line with the electoral pact reached between PH and BN for the 2023 state election.
“PH has made its decision, so we will follow it.”
PH suffered losses in the recent Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections in which BN and Perikatan Nasional formed an electoral pact.
Analysts said the cooperation between the two parties was a factor in consolidating Malay support and weakening PH’s position in the two states. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had said earlier that the 2023 PH-BN electoral pact in the state would remain in force until the end of the current term.
