Penang CM ticks off Gerakan for targeting by-elections

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has ticked off Gerakan for looking forward to contesting in by-elections in the state.

"It is not pleasant to hope for a by-election here. There was a court case on one in Tasek Gelugor but the matter has been settled. It has passed.

"A by-election mostly takes place after a resignation or a death, so it is not so pleasant to hope for such things," he said at a press conference in Komtar.

Chow was asked to comment on Gerakan's plan to contest in future by-elections in Penang, aside from the seats it lost in the 14th general election.

Gerakan president Dominic Lau had told The Sun that the party's central working committee meeting had decided to focus on making headway in familiar seats.

A dominant party in Penang before 2008, Gerakan lost all 12 parliamentary and 33 state seats it contested in last year's general election.

Asked if Gerakan could chart a political comeback, Chow said it all depended on the people.

"The people can put a party in power or take power away from it. 

"We are an active democratic country and we have seen it happen after 61 years," he said.

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