Winning or losing makes no difference, says Penang BN

KEPALA BATAS: Winning or losing the Penanti by-election will not make a difference to the Penang Barisan Nasional.

State Umno secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said winning the seat would not bring any major changes and it would not be a loss to the coalition if Barisan decided not to contest.

He said the Penang Barisan would not achieve anything major such as forming the state government if it contests and wins the seat.

Barisan’s number of seats would increase to 12 if it wins the by-election while Pakatan Rakyat has 28.

“It is not a loss to the BN if we decide not to contest in the by-election,” Azhar, who is also Penaga assemblyman, told reporters yesterday after handing over aid under a federal poverty eradication scheme to the poor at the Bertam Sports Complex.

He said this when asked to comment on Prime Minister and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s statement that the BN was considering staying out of the by-election as it would be a waste of public funds in view of the economic downturn.

Meanwhile, state MCA deputy chairman Eng Hiap Boon chided Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for failing to take responsibility in causing the Penanti by-election.

“He doesn’t want anything to do with the by-election because he knows that the general sentiment is that the people are tired of by-elections.

“Once again he is pushing the blame. This time, instead of MCA and the Federal Government, he is blaming PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.

He said it also showed that Lim did not have full authority as Chief Minister because he was not even informed of Fairus’ resignation as state assemblyman.

State Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said Lim’s unhappiness reflected Pakatan Rakyat’s inability to work as a united front.