Gerakan has hit out at those who said they want the Penang chief ministership to be handed over to Umno if the BN were to reclaim the state in the next general election. 

The party's state chief Teng Hock Nan said those who are suggesting such were naive about the political situation in Penang.

He called them "ignorant and racially biassed" to raise the issue at a point when it is still an uphill task for BN still to win back the state.

gerakan cirtisize penang pakatan state financial strategy 301010 teng hock nan "Mentioning about who should become CM at this juncture is like putting the cart behind the horse," Teng told Malaysiakini .

"If anyone feels that BN should lead Penang, we must first get the support of the people," added the state BN working committee chairperson.

Teng was referring to Umno-owned Malay language daily Utusan Malaysia 's recent article entitled 'Anwar the Renaissance Man, PAS plastik dan P Pinang milik Umno'.

Utusan's Zaini Hassan in his column said that the key for the BN to regain Penang in the next general election is for it to promise to place an Umno member as the next chief minister.

utusan cuit 240811 anwar rennaissance In an immediate reaction, the Penang CM's political secretary and Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik commented sarcastically that Gerakan would in that scenario hand over the post to Umno "on a silver platter ".

Meanwhile, Teng said Penang Umno liaison committee chief Zainal Abidin Osman had already said Umno would not claim the Penang CM post as there was an agreement between BN component parties on the matter.

He added that Prime Minister Najib Razak and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin had also agreed to the matter although they have not made public yet.

He urged those who want to once again enjoy the "prosperity and development" under BN to help disseminate information and support the coalition in the next polls, which although is not due until 2013, might be called this November.

"This also goes for those who want to live in a multiracial, harmonious, open and democratic society," he added.

Prai's RM230mil losses ‘untrue’

On another matter, Teng, who is a former Pulau Tikus assemblyperson, was sore with CM Lim Guan Eng for harping on the Seberang Perai Municipal Council's alleged RM230 million losses accrued by the former Gerakan government in ten years prior to 2008.

Lim, who is DAP national secretary general, had accused the BN of causing the money to "disappear" like a magician.

"By repeatedly raising the issue, he is trying to bring down and blacken our reputation and create mistrust of the people towards the previous government," he said.

"He is implying that due to corruption the council has lost the money, but I am not going to be tricked by him. H, he can continue to say whatever he likes," said the former Penang exco.

Teng said he has clarified the matter several times, saying the money had gone to pay for many community projects within the municipality.

The council had also bought its own building in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam, that is currently enjoyed by the current state government, added Teng.

He said that the council had applied for a federal government grant to reimburse it's expenditure on the said projects.                

"Lim is using the accountant's method to run the state government. Any decision made is based on a business type modal. From business perspective, money must be made," he said.

"But to run the government is not about making money but bringing development to the people so that the people can enjoy a good quality of life," he added.