Pulau Tikus incumbent Koay Teng Hai is bracing for a possible defeat against a Gerakan candidate in the coming general election - because of a secret gambling activity he says is being carried out in his constituency by anonymous bookies.

NONE Koay ( left ) said the bookies have been going around collecting bets from residents in the Pulau Tikus state constituency to ensure that he losses the coming election.

"Bets at RM200 each are offered to the for me to lose my seat and if I lose, those betting will win RM1,000 each," Koay told a press conference at his service centre today.

"Such activities are bound to affect the election results in this area," he said, adding that he wants to re-contest the seat, but the decision was up to the DAP leadership.

"It will be very tough for us, especially in these few weeks as they (our opponents) will use all kinds of dirty tricks to win votes," he stressed.

Koay said that he learned about the bookies from his constituents, but they were unable to identify the bookies or how to contact them.

Teng Chang Yeow eyeing Pulau Tikus?

His claim comes a day after the 1Malaysia-Penang Welfare Club donated RM2.2 million to 106 associations in Penang, including three journalist groups that received RM50,000 each.

If Koay battles for Pulau Tikus again, he is likely to face state Gerakan political education and training bureau chief Rowena Yam.

NONE However, he is also bracing for the possibility of battling state BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow ( right ), saying he has heard speculation that Teng was eyeing the seat, which was why Pulau Tikus is a venue for free dinners and lucky draws hosted by BN-linked groups.

The Pulau Tikus constituency falls under the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat, also held by the DAP, which also holds another state seat under it, Tanjung Bungah, while PKR holds Kebun Bunga.

Koay also displayed brochures on "1Malaysia lucky draws" that have been distributed in his constituency.

Forty people from each constituency stand the chance of winning RM500 each, with the results of the draw to be announced on April 20, the brochure says.

Other attractions under this programme include the chance to win RM500 for wearing the 1Malaysia blue T-shirt, aprons or for sticking the 1Malaysia posters or flying its flags in their properties, buildings or shops.

Koay said the 1Malaysia-Penang Welfare Club would move around and pick the 40 lucky draw winners in each constituency.

"According to the 1Malaysia NGO brochure, RM3.2 million is being spent on the draws. They also claim that the programme is being supported by other NGOs, while there is no involvement from any political parties or the state government," he said.

"Although they claim there is no political involvement, we all know that this NGO supports Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and the BN.

"We know that the BN parties are ashamed to use their own logos to campaign and therefore have been using the 1Malaysia symbol in their programmes," Koay added.

"However, what the BN does not realise is that the 1Malaysia's reputation is also not very good. For example, there have been complaints about the poor quality goods in the 1Malaysia shops."

NGOs urged to donate ‘meaningfully'

NONE All these, Koay said, did not include the daily free dinners organised by unknown NGOs, such as one by "Pure Love" three weeks ago, and he displayed a leaflet showing one of the NGOs thanking Yam ( left ) for organising the dinner.

"The NGOs also give donations to societies in my area, which is a good thing. But our advice to these societies is to use the money meaningfully," Koay said.

"We cannot understand how these NGOs can come up with such ideas to splash money on free dinners instead, of doing something more meaningful, such as donating to dialysis centres or homes for the poor or aged.

"We urge Penang voters to continue to support Pakatan, and if the 1Malaysia NGO is sincere, it can continue these activities until the next general election."

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