Penang is not mission impossible for BN

Najib claims he could sense a strong wind of change was breezing across Penang and a new vigorous spirit among the people.

KEPALA BATAS: With four days more to go for Sunday’s polling day on May 5, confidence seems growing in Barisan Nasional camp that Penang is not a mission impossible after all.

Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak expressed optimism that recapturing the island-state could just be within reach of the coalition, contrary to popular belief that Penang was home and dry for Pakatan Rakyat.

“It is not impossible to recapture Penang from Pakatan in this general election,” he told a crowd during a meet the people programme in SMK Permatang Tok Labu in Penaga here this evening.

Also present were ex-premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Penang MCA chief Dr Ng Yen Yen, Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow, other state BN component party leaders and candidates.

Ground checks proved that at least 15 state seats were grey areas up for grab for both incumbent Pakatan and BN.

Najib, also the Umno president, claimed that he could sense a strong wind of change was breezing across Penang and a new vigorous spirit among the people.

He said Penangites had realised that their DAP-led Pakatan government had failed to live up to their expectations.

The caretaker Prime Minister noted that the people, especially from the lower income group, were sore with state government for not building any affordable homes for them.

In contrary, he said the BN federal government has pipelined some 20,000 homes for Penangites to be built in next few years.

He slammed caretaker Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s administration for being keen to spend the money on an unnecessary undersea tunnel when the Penang Bridge 2 was yet to be operational.

He suggested that the money to build the tunnel could be utilised to build affordable housing for the people.

If built, he said the tunnel would only increase road congestion and complicate traffic dispersal system on the island as another link would bring in more vehicles.

“The tunnel is a bad idea and miscalculation,” said Najib.

He said traffic congestions can be solved with an efficient public transportation system and an outer ring road.

If Penangites were to return BN as the state government, he promised to bring in a better public transport system.

Najib pointed out that Kepala Batas had been a BN stronghold that cannot be taken away by Pakatan.

Later at another function with the Chinese community, Najib announced the government approval to upgrade the Han Chiang, an icon of Chinese education on the island, from college to college-university status.

He also announced government approval for a new branch of Heng Ee High School.

He announced that the government would allocate RM1 million for both institutions after the general election.