WILL BN RETAKE PENANG?

Politics is an art of impossible, just like Penang was taken over by DAP in recent election, Gerakan took over Penang from Alliance in 1969 whom the post of Chief Minister was hold by MCA, so it is not impossible for BN to take over Penang in five years, ten years or even 15 years’ time? No one knows but the voters will decide it.

Ironically, it seems that BN will campaign on the New Economic Policy which was applied by the government to eradicate poverty and ensure a fair distribution of wealth among all the communities. Will the voters in Penang buy the BN New Economic Policy or DAP's fully open tender system, is the question arises and claims to be one of the most important factors to decide who will in power in five years' time.

By the way, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said it was not impossible for the Barisan Nasional to retake Penang in the next general election. The BN would bounce back stronger than ever.

Abdullah lashed out at the Penang government for adopting a fully open tender system, as it did not guarantee fairness to those who were financially weak to compete. He said New Economic Policy was applied by the government to eradicate poverty and ensure a fair distribution of wealth among all the communities.

He said in principle the proposal by the state government to emphasize on equitability appeared to be good but this would actually result in only those who were financially strong benefiting.

"The transparency, open tender and open bidding approach is certainly good and gives comfort to everyone but we have to remind them that not everything that is said to be equitable is fair. Actually, only the strong and those with financial capacity will benefit from it.

"This is our reminder to them because it is our (Barisan Nasional's) responsibility as the opposition (in Penang) to give our views and we will become an opposition that is active, sensitive and concerned about what is happening in Penang. We are not around just to keep the seat warm."