LETTER | In the last general election, Penang overwhelmingly gave the DAP-led Pakatan Harrapan state government a strong majority. But I personally suspect that the reason the majority was so big was due to the many outstation and overseas Penangites coming back to vote.
If those outstation and overseas voters had not returned to Penang for GE14, then I am sure Penangites who are permanently residing in Penang would have caused a dent in Harapan's rule. Hence this is the reason why Penangites staying elsewhere should not return to vote in future elections.
They are not residents here and are not suffering the effects of the mismanagement of the DAP/Harapan government. I really pity members of the Penang Forum who went out of their way to campaign against a strong mandate for Harapan but their efforts were all wasted due to these selfish voters who came back to vote without thinking of the consequences of their actions on Penang.
Let's investigate who is usually the average outstation and oversea voter shall we? They are mostly abroad due to wanting better pay and living standards. Their inability to find those here made them travel abroad for them. First of all, if they are unhappy locally, then do they have the capabilities to make the right decision on who should govern their hometown? Are Penangites willing to let their voting decision be hijacked by people who have no idea what is going on at home?
Real Penangites are the ones who are still staying in Penang and those who have left Penang to get a job elsewhere should not interfere in how Penang chooses its government. I am sure the DAP knows this fact as well and that is why they would always launch their balik mengundi campaign at every election. They know that no matter how they mismanage, all the ignorant voters from abroad and outstation will come back and blindly support them for the simple reason of not wanting BN. The outstation and oversea voters will also influence their family members and voila! DAP wins again.
When real intellectuals from Penang Forum inform Penangites of the facts, they refuse to listen but rather be influenced by the sentiment and propaganda played through the Internet. It made me sick to my stomach when I saw the number of voters coming back to Penang from abroad.
These voters should be stripped of their right to vote if they don't live in Penang for at least five years continuously. Their return to cast their ignorant vote in Penang has condemned Penang to another five years of DAP arrogance and mismanagement.
When GE 15 comes, I hope those living abroad will respect the decisions of those still living in Penang and stay out. Allow enlightened Penangites to cast their votes instead.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
