(Penang, Monday): DAP had never proclaimed that we are optimistic of wresting control of Penang from BN at the next general elections as reported in The Star today. Instead we urged Penangnites to take the lead to give DAP a strong mandate to ensure economic policies of wealth creation and that there will be equitable share for all Malaysians.

At the Penang DAP General Election Preparatory Workship, I had announced that Penang DAP Chair and Tanjung MP Chow Kon Yeow had indicated the intention of the Penang State Committee to contest in seven parliamentary and 22 state seats in Penang. However this proposal has not been finalized and is still subject to closed-door discussions and negotiations with PKR.

DAP is realistic about the difficulty of wresting control of Penang in the coming general elections when DAP only holds a single state seat in the present State Assembly. How can DAP wrest control of Penang when we barely contest a majority of the seats as it would be nearly impossible to win every seat contested? Further the “winds of change” were not blowing as strongly in the northern states as they were in other parts of the country.

A stakeholder company where profits from mega projects can be channelled to allow the 1.5 million people to have a share

The importance of a stronger DAP in Penang and Malaysia is not only in terms of seeking political equality and respect for civil and human rights. It is also about respect for human development, human dignity and equal opportunity. Equal opportunity is giving everyone the right to work, right to spend what is earned, right to own property and have the state as a servant and not as a master and also about our obligation to help the needy.  

DAP wants to empower Malaysians by giving economic freedom and equal opportunity to all so that every individual has an equal chance to achieve our great Malaysian Dream of success by the dint of our personal effort. From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs. 

For this reason DAP believes that the government must share in our nation’s resources. Penang’s mega projects such as the RM 25 billion Penang Global City Centre(PGCC) to RM 2.7 billion 2^nd bridge and the RM 2 billion Penang Sentral should not be monopolized by a few  companies. These companies owe the people of Penang an obligation just as a simple conversion by the Penang State government of the Penang Turf Club land from “open space” to “mixed development” had turned the PGCC developer’s  RM 488 million investment in purchasing the 104 hectare piece of land into a RM 25 billion gold mine.