Penang caretaker Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng warns of potential swing in votes due to “racial politics” in the state which may result in Pakatan Rakyat losing the state government come May 5.

The “dirty game”, he says, is currently being played by his opponents in the Bayan Baru constituency contested by his ally, PKR.

NONE Lim ( right in photo ) urged voters to cast their votes for Pakatan coalition and not based their votes purely on the racial background of the candidates who are contesting.

"What is the point of voting for a Chinese candidate if he sells out the country's citizens? We must make decision on proper evaluation and not one that is based on race,” the DAP secretary-general said.

“For example, we are against corruption and racism, which involves everyone, regardless of ethnicity, so it is better to vote candidates who are clean,”

“We know this (race-centred) campaign has some effect on people so we are being careful as we do not want to lose any seats in Bayan Baru. Losing seats here may cause us to lose the state government.”

'I am Chinese, but CM for all races'

Lim urged the people to see the “big picture” when casting their votes, although he is aware that there may be unresolved issues in Bayan Baru.

The people have to decide whether they want to keep the state government under Pakatan and whether they want to vote in good and clean leaders.

“A leader must service people from all communities regardless of race or religion, likewise, I am a (caretaker) chief minister for all although I am a Chinese,” he added.

Lim, nonetheless said he will accept the people’s verdict if they decided that the Pakatan government had not done anything good for them.

However, if they wish for Pakatan to continue as to administer the state, and keep him as its CM, they must vote for the coalition candidates who represents everyone.

buah pala cancer jayabalan 050909 03 “We are giving you a prime minister from Penang, PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim and me as the CM, while BN does not have a PM candidate from Penang,” he quipped, to loud cheer from the crowd around him.

Bayan Baru, a mix-seat of 79,307 voters comprising 49 percent Chinese, 39 percent Malays and 11 percent Indians, was won by a multi-racial line-up of PKR leaders last term.

This election, PKR is fielding a similarly mixed line-up of candidates consisting of Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru parliamentary seat), Abdul Malik Kassim ( Batu Maung state seat), T Jayabalan ( left , Batu Uban state seat) and Rashid Hasnor ( Pantai Jerejak state seat).

They are contesting against an all-Chinese line-up in BN with Abdul Malik and Jayabalan also facing multiple-cornered fights with Gerakan, as well as Independent candidates such as vocal pro-Malay rights group, Penang Malay Congress, president Rahmad Isahak (Batu Maung) and Mohd Noor Sirajajudeen Mohd Abdul Kader (Batu Uban).

Lim has crowd-pulling power

Meanwhile, since the dissolution of parliament on April 3, it would appear that public support for Lim remains strong.

Everywhere he goes, Lim continues to draw large crowds, attaining a sort of celebrity status in the ceramah he attends, whether on the island or mainland.

Upon his arrival at Pakatan ceramah, the crowd would break into a frenzy, welcoming him with oohs and aahs, chanting DAP's slogan for change 'Ubah!".

NONE After his talk, Lim would even be swarmed by fans, seeking his autograph ( left ) on their Ubah (hornbill) toys or T-shirts.

It was no different in Bagan last night where a big crowd turned-up to wait for his appearance; many coming as early as 8pm, carrying umbrellas to shield them from the rain.

Lim arrived at 11.30pm, after he which he spoke in Jawi, alongside state caretaker deputy chief minister I and PKR chief Mansor Othman.

Mansor, Lim told the crowd, is being fielded in a parliament seat, Nibong Tebal , as the latter is needed to fill a federal minister's post once Pakatan seizes Putrajaya.