Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman Teng Chang Yeow has criticised the Pakatan Harapan Penang GE14 Manifesto as having “different versions with different contents to the different races in the state.”[1]
This claim is utterly untrue as the inconsistencies occurred only with the Chinese translation of the manifesto. Of particular significance, the Malay and English versions contained a point about abolishing the toll at the first Penang Bridge as well as the Sungai Nyior toll. However, this point is omitted in the Chinese version, which instead contained a different point about tax distribution.
This error occurred primarily because the wrong version of the page had been sent for printing. As I had admitted in a press conference yesterday, I was unable to proofread the Chinese version and so could not detect the error before it was published.
As the person in charge, I have apologised for the oversight and accept responsibility even though I am unable to read the Chinese translation. The error has since been rectified and the correct version will be published and distributed.
However, I would like to point out that Teng has no right to point fingers when the BN manifesto itself contains inconsistencies in the different language versions. According to a report by Malaysiakini, the Chinese translation of the BN manifesto contained a promise about abolishing toll fees for motorcycles on the first Penang Bridge, while this point was not found in the Malay version.[2]
Clearly, errors have occurred due to the frantic pace of the election period. Thus, for Teng to paint Pakatan Harapan as playing the racial card is laughable and a pathetic attempt to deflect attention away from the fact that their own manifesto has inconsistent versions.
The difference is that I immediately took responsibility and apologised for the mistake even though I am unable to read Chinese. Not only has Teng not apologised, he obviously cannot use the same excuse.