'WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GIVE FREE FOOD & DRINKS': PKR, DAP to focus on GST as BN launches billboard blitz in P Pauh

With the Permatang Pauh by-election moving into its final leg, BN and PKR have stepped up their campaign with multitudes of billboards, banners and buntings.

In observations around Permatang Pauh, Malaysiakini found that the main theme of the PKR campaign materials to be blasting at the goods and services tax (GST) and the imprisonment of party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

BN did not miss the opportunity to criticise the Penang government under Lim Guan Eng.

One of the new BN billboards erected along Jalan Permatang Pauh displayed caricatures blaming the Penang government for allegedly increasing the quit rent, house prices and for the shortage of low-cost housing.

The plea on them was “bagi MIE peluang, undilah BN” (“give MIE the chance, vote for BN”). Mie is the widely used nickname of the BN candidate, Suhaimi Sabudin.

Despite oputting the posters of Suhaimi all over Permatang Pauh, the picture of BN chairperson Najib Razak is not seen, even nine days after the by-election campaign started.

Other than that, an unidentified banner that reads "Jentera PAS dilarang masuk. Tinggalkan pemikiran kolot. Baru boleh bersama kami" (PAS election machinery is not allowed. Leave your narrow mindedness. Then you can join us) was also found.

The banner only bears the PKR dan DAP logos, sans PAS. It was put up at a roundabout near the Sp Arena Hall in Seberang Prai.

However, it remains unclear as to who is responsible for putting up this banner.

Guan Eng replies

Meanwhile Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Pakatan will not entertain the billboards that criticise the state administration.

Lim, the Bagan MP who is also DAP secretary-general said it is the federal government, not the state, that is responsible for issues regarding water supply.

Asked whether Pakatan would erect its own billboards to answer the critics, Lim said it was not needed as the pact is only focusing on the GST issue.

“They (federal government) did it and we got the blame. The federal (government) is the one that suggested (to increase water tariffs).

"I feel we only want to focus the main issue, GST. If we want to entertain them (BN), we need to look at our capabilities. We don’t have enough to give free foods and drinks,” Lim told Malaysiakini. - M'kini