Has the Penang BN leadership improved since its former head honcho Koh Tsu Koon handed over the baton to Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow, who will lead the coalition into the 13th general election?

It appears that the state BN has been given a new lease of life with Teng's new leadership style, as compared to that of Koh, who in the last several years, had been criticised as an ineffective leader.

Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, penang umno chief When asked, Penang Umno liason committee chief Zainal Abidin Osman ( left ) hailed Teng as a leader who is "firm, brave and forward looking".

"Only three weeks into his post as state BN chief, and we can already feel his aura, that he brings hope to the rakyat in Penang," said Zainal in a joint interview session with the media yesterday.

"We see a leader who is down there with the party machinery, and who moves along together with us in our struggles," added the former rural and regional development parliamentary secretary.

"This is what the BN has been waiting for as the rakyat wants a leader who is firm, courageous and forward looking," stressed the current advisor to the rural and regional development ministry since 2008.

His own man

Teng, who was a former state executive councillor and ex-Padang Kota assemblyman was newly minted as state BN head by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Apr 22 in Nibong Tebal, Zainal's former parliamentary constituency.

Contrary to DAP's allegations that Teng is an " Umno puppet " , the former deputy minister of the rural development ministry said the former was very much "his own man".

He added that Teng had his own opinions and ways of doing things, and was not inclined to merely taking orders from others.

"We can express our opinions to him, which he sometimes accepts and sometimes doesn't but we can work things out among us."

Zainal added that Teng had perked the interest of the media who flocked to his recent first briefing after chairing the state BN meeting last week.

In the press conference held in Penang, Teng had unveiled the state BN's " war plan " to recapture the state, which the coalition lost dismally to Pakatan Rakyat in 2008, winning only 11 seats (all Umno) in the state legislative assembly.

Teng had then fielded many questions from journalists who were eager to know his thoughts, plans and dreams of making Penang a better place to live in, added Zainal.

The renewed interest in Penang BN and its plan for Penangites deserved attention as Teng's vision is for a better state for all communities, he pointed out.

"He spoke on how to upgrade the quality of life of the people and focus on economic development so that Penang can go to a higher level of perfection and comfort than what it is now," he noted.

Zainal, a former chartered surveyor, said he was thankful that under Teng's leadership, the component parties are working well together to try and regain Penang in the coming polls, which must be called no later than June next year.

Even the relationship between Gerakan and MCA - which is well-known for being testy - has somewhat improved.

"It's an open secret that they (Gerakan and MCA) could not agree on certain issues, perhaps it has to do with both parties' interest in the same constituencies," said the National Umno supreme council member.

"But Umno under me, is not radical but moderate. I accept Teng as my leader and we are in contact almost every other day, to see how we can improve the situation in Penang," he added.