Najib's 'confident of recapturing Penang' comment draws laughter

Prime Minister Najib Razak's daring claim of being able to recapture Penang in the next general election drew snide laughter from Pakatan Rakyat leaders in the state, who said the winds of change were indeed blowing but blowing the BN far away from their island.

"Dream on, that's all we can say," Pantai Jerejak assemblyman SimTze Tzin told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Firstly, Umno is perceived by Penangites as the ultimate racist and the rest of the BN such as Gerakan and MCA the greatest stooges and running dogs. This is the reality in Penang. Najib can try but unless he matches his rhetoric with real action, nobody will waste their time on him. Penangites are not stupid."

Penangites want BN to rule them again

In Penang for the day, Najib had strode around the island on walkabouts flanked by his huge entourages of newsmen, aides, bodyguards and state BN officials.

According to the PM, "many quarters" had expressed their disappointment with the Pakatan-led state government and wanted change.

“There is an inclination for change. We want the sentiment to be translated into support,” he told a news conference in Kampung Permatang Pasir.

He went on to detail how on his walkabouts, he came across people lamenting that stall holders were facing pressure and had difficulty in earning a living, unlike during the time of the BN led by Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon.

Penang fell into opposition hands during the 2008 general election and is now run by the Pakatan Rakyat government led by Lim Guan Eng.

Najib also insisted the "winds of change" favouring BN were evident in the recent by-election results at Merlimau and Kerdau, where Umno candidates had won with bigger margins than previously.

He also thrashed his arch rival Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for warning that the leadership crises in the Middle East could spread to Malaysia.

“I wish to respond that while the crises is occurring there, the Barisan has been increasing its majority in the by-elections of late,” he said.

“We must pick ourselves up and determine how we can triumph again, and not become too disappointed. Let us not have quarrels in the BN family. We must keep away conflicts and forge cooperation and do our best. Only then can we rise again,” said Najib, referring to the 2008 loss of the island to the Pakatan.

- Malaysia Chronicle