Don't run away from criticism, Chow tells DAP delegates

Penang DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yeow (above) has urged party leaders and members not to shy away when faced with criticism from voters or supporters.

At the Penang DAP Convention in Prai today, Chow said that party leaders must come forward courageously to address whatever negative criticism is hurled against the party since becoming a part of the Pakatan Harapan government.

"This is one of the issues the party will focus on," said the Penang Chief Minister.

"We must not disappear when faced with criticism. We must come forward to face our critics," Chow told the 372 delegates who attended today's event.

"We must try to help get rid off the negative perception of the party by sharing the right information," Chow added.

Chow then said that party members must defend the state's development projects, which were often opposed by some NGOs.

He did not specify the oppositiob, but it is clear Chow was targetting NGOs like Penang Forum and the Penang Fishermen Association for vigrously opposing the south reclamation project, creation of three artificial islands and the Penang Transport Master Plan.

"This we can do by sharing with them the right information about these projects," Chow, who is Tanjong MP, said.

"Now we are a part of government, it is unlike the previous times where we could just criticise as we like," he added.

Chow said party members, including MPs, can strongly criticise unsound government policies via the proper channel.

The 53-year old DAP has 19 out of 40 state seats in Penang, and holds seven parliamentary constituencies in the last national polls in May 2018.

But as part of the Pakatan Harapan federal government in Putrajaya, Chow said DAP has an added role, where its leaders can still voice out the people's needs.

"We do not just disappear when faced with such issues," he said to loud applause by the delegates.

"However, we have a new role to play as members of the federal government. We have to defend our policies and if there are weaknesses, we can discuss them in a proper forum, we can still help raise the voices of the grassroots," he added.

"We should try to fit into our new role and responsibilities given to us by our voters," stressed the Padang Kota assemblyperson.

"There is no problem too big that we cannot resolve together in Penang. That is the way of the state Pakatan Harapan".

Meanwhile, Chow said Penang has achieved 70 percent of its 68-point GE14 manifesto, while the remaining 30 percent involves approval of the federal government.

He said the party's ministers, deputy ministers and MPs would help raise the remaining issues to the federal government in Putrajaya.

"In these 18 months, we should share with the people our achievements thus far. We should and must be proud of these achievements," Chow told the 372 delegates who attended the one-day convention at the Pearl View Hotel.

The party's convention, where delegates debate resolutions, is closed to the media, causing some disatisfaction among reporters. - Mkini