Big spenders siding with Penang BN put DAP on defensive

Cultural performances are part of the entertainment at a neighbourhood dinner organised by a BN friendly organisation in Penang on April 7, 2013.KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — Backed by supporters with deep pockets, Barisan Nasional (BN) has been heavily campaigning with goodies and giveaways to woo Penang voters ahead of the May 5 polls in a bid to take back the investment-friendly state from the DAP. 

The Asian Wall Street Journal reported today that the 13-party BN coalition — now in the state opposition — and its allies have been pumping in big bucks to cater to the state’s Chinese majority.

The spending has outclassed its political foe the DAP which is finding itself on the defensive due to its lack of financial resources.

“Many of these gatherings are sponsored by external groups and done independently,” Datuk Teng Hock Nan, Penang Gerakan chief, was quoted as saying, acknowledging the BN was rolling out a wide range of campaign-related activities in the northern state but denying they were directly funded by the coalition.

“As far as the party is concerned, we haven’t spent a sen.”

The WSJ noted Malaysia doesn’t publish official campaign spending data.

The BN has been linked to the lavish concert featuring Korean singer Psy last February where coalition chairman and caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was the guest-of-honour. 

Rumours have also been circulating of another mega concert starring Taiwanese and Hong Kong entertainers later this month, but the WSJ reported an unnamed BN official saying the event has yet to be confirmed.

The DAP has admitted to being heavily outspent on its home turf and was depending on its larger social media reach to narrow its financial disadvantage, the daily reported.

The predominantly Chinese party’s Facebook page has drawn 319,251 “likes” compared to the BN’s 52,968 as of yesterday, the WSJ reported, while its Twitter followers number 25,141 overshadowing the BN’s 14,745.

The DAP is worried that its efforts may not be enough as it no longer had the advantage over its political adversary after the surprise results of Election 2008, which rocketed it to power in Penang, the WSJ reported.

“But you can’t underestimate the amount of money they’re spending,” the party’s national assistant publicity secretary, Zairil Khir Johari, was quoted as saying.

“At some point, you can’t deny it may have some influence.”

It reported Zairil as saying his party was counting on its track record over the last five years to keep it in power.

The WSJ reported Penang, the third-highest contributor to the national economy after Selangor and Johor, has emerged as a big draw for foreign investors, especially those from China and Singapore who have been buying up high-end condominiums on the island, and electronics giants like Bose and Intel.