I refer to malaysiakini report DAP eyes Penang again . Just as PAS is trying their best to retain Kelantan and wrest Terengganu back from BN rule in the coming polls, DAP still thinks they have a fighting chance for taking Penang which happens to be a Gerakan crown jewel. All is fair in love and war and may the better party win big in the Pearl of the Orient state.

DAP needs to work with PKR to achieve their dream of taking Penang in the next polls. Being an urban area and a well-developed state, the savvy voters there will be not be drawn into the promise of the BN mantra of bringing development to the state. Rampant corruption and abuse of power by the present regime might persuade the urban voters to give DAP a chance to form the next state government after the next polls.

The people's perception is that although a Chinese holds the powerful chief minister's post, the power behind the throne is still being held by the local warlords of Umno chieftains who call the shots there. The chief minister, although a likable person in Penang, had to suffer the ignominy of being told to give up his powerful position to Umno several times before. Being a long-serving chief minister of the state, one tends to wonder if there will be power struggle in Gerakan - which can weaken the party - when he moves up to the federal level in the next polls.

Although the prime minister is from Penang, it doesn't mean that BN will have a walkover in the next polls to win big in Penang. Let us not forget that a certain former deputy prime minister also comes from the same state and the state BN could well face a tremendous challenge in the run-up to the expected coming polls.

DAP nearly formed the state government in1986 when they teamed up with Semangat 46. History might repeat itself if this Chinese-based party can work out an arrangement with PKR to give BN a run for their money.

While it might be unthinkable for the BN to lose the federal government to the opposition in the next general elections, the states of Penang, Kelantan and Terenganu might fall to the opposition if the latter plays its hand well. Voters feel cheated by BN's solemn promise to eradicate corruption and abuse of power.

All things being equal, this coming general election is a golden change for voters to use their massive power to make a change for the betterment of our country. Our children and grandchildren will suffer the most if the government of the day does not listen to its conscience.

We deserve a better government and we should make sure that we elect 'clean hands' in order for our country to progress further.