Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow has been told to apologise for dangling a non-existence carrot - free port status - to Penangites.

State DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow said Teng had, with much pomp and glamour when he was named state BN chief, announced his grand plan for BN to win Penang back in the next general election.

NONE Teng "attempted to entice" voters by dangling the carrot of returning the free port status to Penang - which was revoked by the federal government in 1969 - said Chow ( left ), who is the state executive councillor for local government and transportation.

Teng promised that if BN formed the next state government, it would revive the free port status.

Chow said DAP MPs raised this matter at the federal level and in Parliament, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the issue did not arise as Penang already had several free trade zones.

"We pointed this out to Teng and his response was: ‘If we become the government and we do not do it, then you ask us why'.

"We are uncertain if Teng's latest statements on the restoration of Penang's free port status represents the collective stand of BN, let alone the state coalition," Chow told a press conference yesterday.

"It is irresponsible of Teng and BN Penang to dangle a non-existent carrot in front of Penang voters," he said after the launch of DAP's signature campaign to seek the return of Penang Port to Penangites.

"Penang voters surely do not want to regret, after voting BN in, only to find out that all of the BN's promises cannot be implemented, cannot be delivered and are not viable."

MCA: DAP politicising free port status

Two weeks after Teng's announcement, his allies in Penang BN - state Gerakan chief Dr Teng Hock Nan and Teluk Bahang assemblyperson Dr Hilmi Yahya - stated that the restoration of Penang's free port status would be unrealistic.

Hock Nan and Hilmi counter-proposed a limited duty-free customs, immigration and quarantine zone (CIQ) at Penang Port on Seberang Perai - which prompted a lashing from the DAP, which described the pair as the "Team B" of Penang BN.

NONE This peeved MCA president and Penang Port Commission chairman Dr Chua Soi Lek, who condemned the DAP leaders for politicising the privatisation of Penang Port and duty-free port status to gain the people's support.

Chow said Teng ( left ) did not respond to the DAP's repeated requests for clarification, but only described the CIQ proposal as something to complement the free port status.

"I suggest Teng apologises to the people of Penang over this misleading and false promise," demanded Chow, who is also the MP for Tanjung.