Penang BN leaders 'throw eggs' at Guan Eng

Penang BN leaders have not taken kindly to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s remark that BN should “eat eggs” (win zero seats) at the coming general elections.

His statement, coming during the height of his speech at DAP’s fundraising dinner on Wednesday, has irked his opponents so much that some have likened him to a “village hero”.

State Umno Youth chief Shaik Hussein Mydin said Lim’s wisdom sank to its lowest when he expressed hope that BN should not be given any seats in the polls, which may be called as early as June.

Shaik Hussein (right) opined that with an attitude like this, Pakatan Rakyat is bound to win fewer seats than it did in March 2008.

“Lim should not be so proud and arrogant to hope that Penangites, especially the professionals, from all races, would continue to support DAP with a two-third majority, as there is too much confusion in development matters here,” he said.

“It is obvious that Lim is merely a village hero because he has successfully tricked villagers, especially the Chinese community, by playing with racial sentiments,” he told Malaysiakini.

Pakatan Rakyat currently holds 29 seats in Penang, against Umno’s 11, while its allies in BN - MCA and Gerakan - failed to win any in 2008.

Shaik Hussein said Lim had managed to destroy the spirit of unity that had existed between Penangites prior to 2008.

He added that Lim practised a “divide-and-rule” policy but it seems that this method was only successful in the rural areas as the people were duped with sweeteners.

He stressed that the absence of three DAP Indian leaders - Karpal Singh, RSN Rayer and A Thanasekran - was proof that they felt “upset” with the party’s marginalisation of the community.

“Lim said he needed 40 percent of the Malay vote, and 90 percent of that the Chinese... he did not mention Indians, it is proof he does not need them,” he quipped.

He challenged Lim to be brave enough to hand over his post to a Penang-based DAP leader if he failed to garner a two-thirds majority in the coming polls.

'Absolute power corrupts'

Another BN leader, Gerakan's Baljit Singh, said Lim may have the “upper hand” in Penang now but he should also allow some opposition voices.

Baljit (left), who is state Gerakan legal and human rights bureau chief, urged Lim not to be so arrogant to think that all seats should go to Pakatan as “absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

He said, “This is the mark of a dictatorship,” adding that if Penangites want it to be that way - zero representation from BN - their wish should be respected.

“We know Lim said this to boost the morale of his supporters during the dinner, this is understandable. But it is not democratic to want to grab all power and leave no space for dissenting voices,” he added.

Baljit, a lawyer by profession, said if a group wants to grab power, those who oppose it would be stronger still.

“Then what happens? Innocent people will be sacrificed or suffer in the middle. This will not be good for democracy,” he toldMalaysiakini.