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MIPP president P Punithan has hit back at Gerakan chief Dominic Lau, who earlier today dismissed the notion that MIPP could lead PN’s campaign in the state.
“There is no turning back … Our ultimate aim is to win Penang for PN,” Punithan said in a statement.
He agreed that Gerakan had played a major role in shaping Penang but said times had changed.
Lim Chong Eu and Koh Tsu Koon, both former Gerakan presidents, held the Penang chief minister’s post from 1969 to 1990, and from 1990 to 2008, respectively.
“We do not deny the contributions of Gerakan in building Penang to where it is today. The fundamentals of modern Penang were historically built by Gerakan’s former leaders,” said Punithan.
“However, the scenario today is totally different.
“We appreciate Gerakan’s legacy, but we will not be tied down by it.”
He said that a strategy focussed on Malay and Indian voters was the most viable path to victory at the state polls as Chinese voters would continue to support the ruling DAP.
Noting that Malaysian Indians had strong historical connections with Penang, he said MIPP could present a strategy to take over the state.
At a Chinese New Year gathering today, Lau questioned the basis for MIPP to lead PN in Penang, stating that Gerakan was more experienced as it had previously governed the state.
Lau said any talk of MIPP leading the coalition’s machinery was unlikely to materialise as “Gerakan is already here (in Penang)”.
On Sunday, Punithan said his party was open to discussions about assuming a leadership role in the Penang PN chapter following a report that PN planned to focus on Malay and Indian voters to secure a slim majority at the next state election.
FMT had previously quoted a source as saying that PN acknowledged the difficulty in capturing Chinese votes in Penang as its component Gerakan had struggled in its attempt to gain their support in recent elections.
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