Why is the BN government talking about reinstating Penang's free port status now when previous Gerakan-helmed state government had 38 years to look into it?
GEORGE TOWN: A local NGO today dismissed a state Barisan Nasional proposal to revive Penang’s revoked free port status (FPS) as a mere political gimmick.
Penang Malay Congress (PMC) president Rahmad Isahak said the proposal made by its state chief Teng Chang Yeow was clear sign that BN was desperate to fish for votes to regain lost electorate ground.
“It’s a desperate proposal of desperate politics by a desperate BN.
“BN is bankrupt of ideas on how to win back the hearts and minds of Penangites,” he said in a statement today.
He called on Penangites not to forget that it was BN’s predecessor, the Alliance, which revoked Penang’s FPS back in 1969.
If Teng and company were sincere and honest to restore the FPS, he said BN should do it immediately without any condition.
He added that the FPS matter was under federal purview and not the state.
“Is BN blackmailing the people by telling us that the FPS would be restored only if BN is returned to power?” he asked.
By right, he said, the previous Alliance state government should not have allowed the removal of FPS in first place.
He said the previous Gerakan-helmed state BN government had 38 years between 1970 and 2008 to restore Penang’s FPS.
“But it failed. Why now?” asked Rahmad.
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