COMMENT Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow are engaged in a seemingly endless argument over the state seat where they should take on one another in the next general election.

Both are considered political giants as Teng is slated for the chief minister's post if BN recaptures Penang in GE13.

To set the record straight, Teng did not throw Lim an outright challenge to do battle but was responding to a question as to whether he was willing to meet Lim in a straight fight, should the latter agree to this.

NONE “It is up to him (to contest against me). This is not about challenging an individual. This is not about a boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Bugner, this is about the policies for the state of Penang,” he had told KiniTV , Malaysiakini's digital news station, on March 21.

The question was posed because many of Lim's supporters would like to see their chief finish off Teng's career in the state assembly.

To many, Lim is capable of winning any seat he contests due to his overwhelming popularity in Penang, especially among hardcore opposition supporters who do not wish to see an Umno-dominated BN return to power.

However, since Teng is said to be contesting in Bukit Tengah against a PKR candidate, there would have to be a seat swap to allow Lim to contest there, which could have posed difficulties for PKR and DAP in allocating seats.

Lim has since put the speculation to rest, saying: "I never said before that I want to challenge Teng.

"I think we are being very reasonable. We will stand in his former constituency (Padang Kota Lama). He should go back there. We are being fair to him, since he wants to face off with me. This would indeed be a historic event."

Teng, who is Gerakan secretary-general, was Padang Kota Lama assemblyperson for three terms, but lost to state DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow in 2008.

dap wong tack bentong ceramah 20130312 06 lim guan eng In response, Teng had set a condition for Lim (right) to contest only a state seat and not a parliamentary one as well, adding that it should also be a constituency of BN's choice.

Teng must have been surprised when Lim accepted the challenge. Teng will now be forced to reciprocate and contest in Padang Kota Lama.

Should he do so, it would create a quandary, as it is well known that state BN Youth chief Oh Tong Keong is vying for the seat.

Oh has been relentless in carrying out activities to gain the trust of voters in the Chinese-majority seat.

Little logic in contest

The issue involving Lim and Teng, meanwhile, has been turned into a contest of who has the guts to contest the other.

As much as it would be interesting to see two 'giants' battle it out, many are questioning the logic of such a contest.

A survey carried out by a Chinese-language daily in Padang Kota Lama has revealed that many do not want to see a straight fight between Lim and Teng.

NONE Some ask if it would be fair for both Lim and Chow (left) - the incumbent in Padang Kota Lama who has agreed to contest in Air Puteh - to leave their constituency for another seat, as this might seem as if they have a habit of 'running away'.

Politics is but perception and some quarters are also accusing Lim of being only daring to contest in a Chinese-majority, and not a mixed, seat.

Lim has claimed that Teng merely wants to contest in a seat where Umno can help him win, thus accusing him of being a lackey of the Malay party.

There are those who would prefer to have both leaders winning, in order to argue policies in the state legislative assembly as this would certainly be better for the people of Penang.

Whatever the leaders decide in the coming days, Penangites will have to live with the decision for the next five years.

Should the two leaders place higher priority on the people's interests than on playing a political game?

SUSAN LOONE is a member of the Malaysiakini team.