GEORGE TOWN: Penang DAP chairman Steven Sim Chee Keong has brushed off PAS' prediction that the Pakatan Harapan government is nearing collapse, saying the coalition will remain focused on defending Penang rather than responding to political rhetoric.
Sim said the opposition's remarks reflected overconfidence following Barisan-Perikatan's victory in the Negri Sembilan state election.
"They are winning now. They are confident and have become arrogant. That is why they are making such arrogant statements.
"My answer is simple. Let them remain arrogant.
"As for Penang DAP and Penang Pakatan Harapan, we will continue working hard to safeguard and defend Penang, as well as all DAP and Pakatan Harapan seats," he said in his speech at the 'Tanjung@40: Steadfast in the Struggle' dinner at the Penang Chinese Town Hall on Sunday (Aug 2).
He was responding to PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari who earlier claimed that the Pakatan government was "at the end of its tether" and could collapse at any time.
ALSO READ: Pakatan Harapan at its end, says PAS info chief
Fadhli said that if the Barisan-Perikatan electoral blueprint from Negri Sembilan were replicated nationwide, the coalition could sweep all states in Peninsular Malaysia in the 16th General Election, including Penang, a long-time Pakatan stronghold.
Responding to the same remarks, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow called on DAP members to give their full support to both the party's central and state leadership as they reassess political strategies following the Negri Sembilan polls.
"Let us give our full support to the central and state leadership as they review the party's strategy so that DAP can address this critical challenge.
"This will enable us to continue our struggle not only as an opposition party, but also as a governing party at both the state and federal levels," he said.
Chow said the party needed to adapt to the changing political landscape while remaining united in facing future electoral challenges.
Also present were former DAP Tanjung MPs Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang and Ng Wei Aik, Tanjung MP Lim Hui Ying and Penang DAP deputy chairman Ramkarpal Singh.
