GE14: Can BN's Teng zoom from zero to hero in Tg Bungah?

GE14 | The stakes are high for Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow (above) in the coming 14th general election as he cannot afford to lose again after doing so two times in a row in 2008 and 2013.

But this does not mean Teng seeks to contest an easy seat or battle with a "weak or un-winnable" candidate from Pakatan Harapan come polling day.

He tried that once in 2013 when he contested against PKR's Ong Chin Wen in Bukit Tengah in Seberang Perai South but was trounced by his opponent who then earned the label "giant-slayer".

This time, it is learnt that Teng is to be fielded at Tanjung Bungahagainst DAP middle-weight Zairil Khir Johari, the former DAP Bukit Bendera rep.

He will face former journalist Chua Cheong Wee who is contesting under PRM's ticket for the urban seat located in the north of the island.

Tanjung Bungah is a "trouble seat" previously held by Teh Yee Cheu who has quit DAP to contest Sungai Pinang, also under a PSM ticket.

Teng was previously slated for Sungai Pinang but may have been put off because of the various parties eyeing the seat which falls under the Jelutong parliamentary constituency.

DAP incumbent Lim Siew Khim will recontest the seat while PAS has fielded Yaakob Omar there.

Tanjung Bungah came into the spotlight last year when it suffered a massive landslide (below) which fatally buried 11 people. Civil society activists have been complaining about over-development pointing to the mushrooming of high-rise buildings and hillslope projects.

Teh has repeatedly raised these issues calling for a halt in hill slope development but hit a brick wall when the Penang government did not entertain his request.

Civil society actors

Teng, who is also state Gerakan chief, can bank on these issues to garner some votes against Zairil, who has been plagued by problems which earlier had threatened his political career.

Nevertheless, he has risen above it with his party dismissing the matter as "personal”, noting that he has performed his parliamentary duties well.

Teng also hopes to borrow the support of civil society actors who have been singing the same over-development tune but it is uncertain how strong their influence in the area is.

One of the bolder NGOs, Penang Forum, has even threatened to vote against the present administration if no changes were made to what they said were alarming development policies.

But will they cast their votes for Teng, a former state executive councillor during the previous Gerakan-led government, which was then not exactly against hill slope or highrise development as many projects were approved and built?

With all these at stake, can BN and Gerakan move from zero (seats) to becoming the people's hero for this coming May 9 polls?

Voting Teng in as a state assemblyperson on the opposition bench may send a clear message to the Penang government that voters will not tolerate shoddy, unplanned development and life-threatening hillslope projects.

However, Teng's fate is left to be seen as many Penangites, who have been turning up in big numbers in Pakatan Harapan ceramah are already riding the Harapan waves of "Save Malaysia".

Will they vote for the candidate or the party logo? Stay tuned for the answer on May 9. - Mkini