YOURSAY | 'Focus on 13 marginal seats, don't be apathetic Harapan can win ala-2018'

Syerleena: No green wave in Penang, people want good governance

Apanama is back: Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid, it is always safe to be cautious rather than overconfident.

Of course, DAP could win the upcoming Penang election and form the state government although it wouldn’t be easy for Pakatan Harapan to maintain the supermajority support it received in the 2018 election, taking into account Perikatan Nasional's rise in popularity among the Malays.

With Kepala Batas, Permatang Pauh and Tasek Gelugor lost to PN in the November 2022 general election, the Harapan machinery will have to fight it out in the Malay heartlands of Balik Pulau and Seberang Perai, to fend off the “green wave” – the term used to describe the success of the PN-PAS partnership.

There are 13 marginal seats, one on the island and the rest on the mainland.

These seats are considered not safe or won marginally in 2018, of which PKR has seven, Umno and Bersatu have two each, and Amanah and PAS each have one.

The marginal seats with the winning party’s share of votes are:

Permatang Berangan (Umno) 37.8 percent
Pinang Tunggal (PKR) 38.7 percent
Sungai Dua (Umno) 41 percent
Bertam (Bersatu) 41.2 percent
Sungai Acheh (PKR) 44.1 percent
Telok Ayer Tawar (PKR) 44.4 percent
Penanti (PKR) 44.9 percent
Permatang Pasir (Amanah) 45.3 percent
Sungai Bakap (PKR) 45.5 percent
Telok Bahang (Bersatu) 45.6 percent
Pulau Betong (PKR) 49.6 percent
Seberang Jaya (PKR) 53.1 percent
Penaga (PAS) 53.5 percent

You need to focus more on these 13 seats. Do not be apathetic that Harapan in the unity government will win as it did back in 2018.

Coward: Simply because it is viewed as the most secure Harapan state government, it does not mean the green wave is not happening or it is a small one that you can ignore. Remember the Sunway Carnival malarkey?

Syerleena’s comments made me worried that Harapan is sitting on its laurel, thinking that older voters will vote for the coalition for its better administration.

Let's not forget that the youngsters only lived under this "better" administration. However incompetent PN is, the youths are not aware of it.

They are unable to do any comparison between the two as they have not experienced a PN administration.

If they can do that we can simply tell them Kedah is a good warning as the state declined even more under PN than it was under BN.

By the time they find out, assuming they regret that, Harapan will be gone. Also, this older population, which includes me, are a dwindling stock. Harapan needs to attract young voters to replace those who are on their way out or already gone.

TTSH: You are probably not familiar with Penang's demographic. Permatang Pauh is located on the mainland with a 75 percent Malay population. So what do you expect?

The Penang mainland is a Malay majority. That leaves it vulnerable to the green wave, and a challenge to PKR, Umno and Amanah. The three parties just have to work harder in their respective constituencies.

On the other hand, Penang island's demographic indicates the majority consists of ethnic Chinese, Indians, East Malaysians and other minority groups. Almost 9 percent of Penang island's population consists of foreigners.

I will not say it is impossible or unlikely that the green wave will reach the shores of Penang island. I am just using some logic - cosmopolitan city, highly educated population, Malays more open like Syerleena (Penang is colour blind - who cares whether capable MPs are yellow, black or white?).

Penang lang (which means people in Hokkien) are generally wealthier than their mainland counterparts, are savvy voters, work in fast and moving industries, in a business-friendly environment, have a competent government, all races friendly and live in harmony with each other.

Welcome to the Pearl of the Orient - beautiful weather, no floods! This is the main reason why Penang is more successful than the other states.

Can the green wave accept all of the above? Penang island is expensive. Not anyone can afford a property or the high cost of living on the island.

Nash: Penangites critic local government to be better, not hold them ransom or change the government.

I can bet that more than 50 percent of Penangites wish Harapan will retain power and do better.

What Syerleena is saying is true, Penang wouldn't want PN to rule. Hence no part of Penang island has PN influence.

I was so sure Nibong Tebal and Balik Pulau would be grabbed by PN, but no. Only Permatang Pauh (Kepala Batas and Tasek Gelugor) fell from Harapan.

Angin Lintang: Enforcement agencies must be quick to act to take down fitnah (slanderous) internet content and make quick arrests.

News on the clampdowns must be published regularly on mainstream news, TV and internet, reportings must be concise and include important details of each case.

Slander using race and religious sentiments is extremely dangerous, be it against non-Muslims and Muslims alike.

As long as the 'green slander' is stopped, they have nothing else to carry the green wave on.

P Dev Anand Pillai: The Penangites are resolute people. They cherish and appreciate good governance.

Being the only state with a non-Muslim and non-Malay majority, they have managed to demonstrate the essence of what the people want most which is good governance irrespective of which party is in power.

The previous governments before 2008 did not demonstrate that and the people became fed up and frustrated due to years of inaction and bullying by the federal administration.

The DAP-led state has done well and the results speak for themselves.

A good majority of those who are green wave supporters look for their daily bread in Penang because there is nothing much to look forward to in their respective green wave states.

So it is a choice between a populace that thinks and one that doesn't. Well done, Penangites!

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