As the 14th general election draws near, BN component parties are now starting to blame each other for past losses.

Penang BN, led by Teng Chang Yeow, was evidently rankled by Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's remarks earlier today that component parties in the state seemed dependent on Umno's machinery.

Taking a sarcastic swipe at the Malay ruling party, Teng, who is also the state Gerakan chief, said there is no denying Umno's election machinery is superior.

"Their machinery is so good that they are unable to win back Kelantan and Selangor,” said Teng in a statement.

"Umno machinery under its vice-president Zahid himself as co-director of operation for Permatang Pauh by-election, did not win the Permatang Pauh by-election.”

Teng said Zahid should know why BN lost Penang in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.

During the past two polls, Umno managed to capture 11 and 10 seats respectively but Gerakan, MCA and MIC won zero seats.

"We lost Penang not because of machinery or unity but because of Umno!" claimed Teng.

Teng did not elaborate but it is learnt that Umno's support of far-right Malay groups have caused uneasiness in non-Malay communities, which see Gerakan, MCA and MIC as endorsing Umno's race-based politics.

"This is a well-known fact. If we still fail to understand this fact, we will continue to fail!" he added.

"There is no reason to reopen the old wound. It is time to rectify and strengthen the cooperation.”

Zahid was quoted by Bernama as saying today that Umno was prepared to share knowledge and assist parties such as Gerakan and MCA as well as cooperate with all BN component parties to win Penang.

According to Bernama, Zahid also said other BN component parties should not be arrogant and shy away from Umno’s offer of assistance because the ultimate aim of BN was to recapture Penang from the opposition.

Zahid said this when opening the Balik Pulau Umno division delegates meeting.

Meanwhile, MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker earlier today said Umno's 'jaguh kampung' (village hero) politics hurt its BN partners.

"If BN is merely a 'jaguh kampung' and loses in the urban areas, this is enough to show that BN has failed to be in sync with or align the party with changes in the attitudes of the Malay, Chinese, Indian and so on in the cosmopolitan areas.

"This failure is BN's failure, not that of the component parties chosen to contest under BN's ticket," he had said in a statement.