The Penang BN has criticised the DAP’s vision for the state, saying it is merely showing off with the words: ‘Penang Paradigm’ - the title of the state government’s development agenda for the coming decade.

NONE The report, prepared by think tank Penang Institute with a 30-strong team, will be released for public consultation on Feb 23 , said its executive director Woo Wing Thye.

State BN chief Teng Chang Yeow said that, in contrast to ‘Paradigm’, the BN’s state election manifesto highlights several items.

“We have rolled out things from time to time. Just wait. At least we have rolled out our vision for Penang,” Teng told reporters at the BN’s ‘I Love Penang’ tea party yesterday.

“Pakatan, after five years, if you ask them, (would) say they have given way to the Greater Penang (development plan) and now they have a ‘Penang Paradigm’.

“We have the free port, aqua-culture, financial and education hubs. We promise a tourism heaven, an innovation park, a monorail system and affordable housing. What are they (DAP) offering?

NONE “They have only two words - ‘Penang Paradigm’. And to use the word ‘Penang’, we have to seek the chief minister’s permission.

“We’re using the word ‘Penang - our next leap forward” (to describe our vision) . I am waiting to see if the state legal adviser will take me to court for using the word.”

Sarcasm aside, Teng said his team would study the ‘Penang Paradigm’ because “as the Chinese saying goes, we must understand our enemy in order to win the battle”.

The state BN has been promoting its visions in stages or ‘waves’, starting with paid advertisements in local newspapers since last December.

“We have started advertising our election promises on the Internet and in news portals this year, and are planning to broadcast these on TV and radio once Parliament is dissolved,” noted Teng.

BN ‘awaiting mandate’

When reminded that several issues raised by the BN, like the Taman Manggis affordable housing issue and free port status, have somewhat backfired on the coalition, Teng replied: “Wait, we will consider them if we get a mandate (in Penang).

"It’s a different era. Different development is coming up now. Today, (when) we look at manufacturing, (we find that) it has reached its peak. This prime industry is suffering, new technologies have emerged. Are we prepared to face these challenges?”

Asked why the BN cannot realise its vision now since it holds Putrajaya, Teng said: “When the DAP was in the opposition (in Penang), they also made a lot of promises.

“They had said ‘elect us to power and we will deliver’. It is the same here. These are election promises. We are not copying them but practising our democratic rights.”

When told that critics view the BN as merely fishing for votes with the election promises, Teng replied: “Whatever I say, they (critics) will always bash me up 10 times more.”

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