Penang polls: Leaders rally for support in Pakatan’s mega ceramah

GEORGE TOWN: It was a party-like atmosphere as Pakatan Harapan held its final ceramah at the Karpal Singh Drive on the eve of polling day for the Penang state election.

More than 3,000 people attended the mega ceramah, which started at about 7.30pm on Friday (Aug 11).

Among the speakers were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, Caretaker Chief Minister and Padang Kota candidate Chow Kon Yeow, Tanjong MP-cum-Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, veteran politician Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, Damansara MP Gobind Singh Deo, Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid and incumbent Datok Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo.

Yeoh, who was in Penang for the last day of campaigning for the first time since joining politics in 2008, said Perikatan Nasional had no right to govern the state as they were not capable.

"They have no capacity in answering hard questions from the media unlike the unity government who holds regular townhall meetings with the people.

"They will also just read from a script when they are on television, and when questioned further, they will issue a press release instead of meeting with the reporters," she said.

Yeoh added that Pakatan had an excellent track record in governing the state, and Penangites should continue to give the coalition the mandate.

Gobind said after years of fighting, the country finally saw Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becoming the 10th Prime Minister.

"Perikatan has told the people that there will be a change in Putrajaya if they win, it is a lie as this is only a state election.

"We need a state government which is in line with the Federal Government as major projects will be approved.

“We pledge to do our best for the Penang people, and the states governed by us, and hope that they will continue to vote for us," he said.

Hui Ying reminded Penangites to come back to vote, adding that Pakatan was hoping for a 70% turnout.

Guan Eng said Pakatan would be a government for all as the coalition did not look at race.

"We have done right in Penang as we managed to improve its economy and standard of living for the people."

Zambry said Barisan Nasional would sit down with DAP after this to see how the lives of the people could be improved.

He also reminded everyone to wake up early and come out to vote so that the state and Federal Government would have a stronger mandate which would lead to more political stability.

Also present were incumbent Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari, who was one of the speakers, and first-time candidates Wong Yuee Harng (Pengkalan Kota) and Connie Tan (Seri Delima).

Meanwhile, Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, who was also one of the speakers, said everyone should support Chow as he had worked hard to bring the state to where it is today.

“He was instrumental in leading the state DAP to taking over Penang in 2008.

“We must continue to support him as he will bring Penang to greater heights should Pakatan continue to be given the mandate.

“Support for Chow is support for Anwar as the two of them will lead the people the right way.

“Penang is also set to lead Malaysia to its second economic take off especially in the semiconductor industry and other industries.

“This is the opportunity for Malaysia to take off economically again under Anwar, and I want to see Penang take the lead,” he said.