YOURSAY | ‘Guan Eng's endorsement is a vote of confidence in him.’

Chow: Don't be held to ransom by three-cornered fights, face it

Drngsc: You are right, Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow. Please convince your colleagues that if it has to be three-cornered fights, so be it.

We will have to work harder. We must not be held to ransom by unprincipled, morally corrupt religious snakes. Just let them be, and fight our own wars.

Spirit of Malaya: YB Chow, it all sounds well and nice before the elections and the same was said prior to the recently concluded by-elections. What happened?

Did the so-called ‘enlightened’ Malays and Chinese punish Umno-BN for misappropriating 1MDB's money?

To the contrary, they gave a resounding victory to Umno-BN. I am not a fan of PAS, too, but we must accept the fact that PAS has loyal supporters who don't desert their party during elections.

Liew Lean Kut: If you’ve got to face it, you’ve got to face it. The people have to make a choice whether they still want Harapan or they can give their votes back to BN.

Malay votes will be split five ways, the chances are equal. Whether you like it or not, PAS is going to be spoiler with its chief, Abdul Hadi Awang, allegedly working with Umno.

Anyway, I think the opposition will not be able to take Putrajaya in the next elections, so it is better to face it now.

Sarawakian: From the recent by-elections, it is clear that PAS voters are loyal and cannot be taken by PKR/Amanah/BN.

At the same time, DAP in Chinese areas do not need to worry about three-cornered fights. It is PKR/Amanah that are the most vulnerable.

Now Pakatan Harapan’s only hope is for Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new party to prevail in three-cornered fights in rural, Malay-majority seats.

With solid Chinese/Indian support, Mahathir's party should stand a good chance in a three-cornered fight with Umno and PAS.

Voter surveys during the by-elections showed a very high percentage of BN supporters ready to switch, but none of the opposition parties were attractive to them.

Amanah could not win the by-elections in the face of such strong campaigning by DAP, which allegedly alienated the Malay voters.

The Analyser: DAP conveniently forget that if it weren't for PKR and PAS they would not be in control in Penang.

It was the Anwar Ibrahim Effect that got them over the line and since they were elected to office, the Anwar Effect has disappeared. In addition, DAP leader Lim Guan Eng has alienated PAS completely and done his best to alienate PKR.

I also suspect that there are a significant number of Chinese who are less than impressed by his performance. Certainly well-educated Chinese would be asking what he thinks he is doing.

So DAP is now in a situation where their power base is seriously eroded and they have done nothing to build the image of the party.

Really, all they have going for them now is Guan Eng. And his days are numbered. What then?

Through Lim's selfishness there is no fall-back position and it is too late to rebrand the party... anyway nobody would believe a rebranded DAP.

Anonymous 2341511439892780: Pakatan Harapan people should all read and understand ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ and not let BN tear you apart to protect themselves.

Chow - from Lim's shadow to 'natural choice' for CM

Anonymous_1371547149: Well, talk is easy. Let's see Chow getting the job done while receiving flak from all sides, constantly in the crosshairs of Umno and worst of all, having to watch your back for snitches and renegades among your political partners.

As it is said, it's good to be loved, but it's better to be feared. Guan Eng may be aggressive and abrasive, but he doesn't bow down to his enemies nor is he an easy pick.

Remember Gerakan and Lim Chong Eu, the perennial Mr Nice Guy? How he won government in Penang as the opposition and later decided to became part of BN.

Look at what his party has become today - a party of alleged eunuchs.

New Dawn: What is important to the voters and people of Penang is that the state develops and progress with jobs for people, income for the small businessmen, harmony among the people and a non-corrupt government.

If Chow can fulfil that role, is it necessary for him to have a combative personality?

As for ideas and visions, if he is open and prepared to listen to well-meaning people, those with the necessary experience and expertise, feedback from the rakyat, and even political opponents, he can't do much wrong if he can be fair, decisive and assertive.

Prudent: Chow is a paragon of soft power and emotional quotient (EQ). That is the only way to survive in the shadow of a strong man and gain his confidence and Chow is wise enough to know that.

Guan Eng's endorsement is a vote of confidence in him. If he does emerge from under Guan Eng's shadow, expect him to be able to exercise hard power in a softer way.

CharKuayTeow: It’s time to have quiet, efficient technocrats who can get things done.

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