PENANG In 2008, Pakatan Rakyat won with comfortable majorities in 10 of the 13 parliamentary seats in Penang. However, it scraped through with 708 votes in Balik Pulau , but lost Tasek Gelugor and Kepala Batas to BN.

At this 13th general election, several Independents have joined the fray after being dropped from the contest by their respective parties.

Ironically, the Independents - who are mostly made up of disgruntled members - may end up drawing votes away from their former party colleagues to benefit their rivals.