KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan is ready to recapture Penang from DAP in the next general election, Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said.
He said the party was gearing up its machinery to win the election and would restore Penang to its former glory when it came to power.
He said the people should realise by now that the present state government under DAP had caused Penang to slide into decline.
He said the DAP-led state government had failed in development planning, environmental protection, low- cost housing and responsible governance.
"Gerakan will return to the Penang state assembly and we are the first party to identify the candidates right after the last election.
“We have planned to recapture Penang for a long time, and our potential candidates are the result of party teamwork and unity,” he said when addressing the Gerakan 46th national delegates conference at Menara PGRM here today.
Present was Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman.
Mah said Gerakan candidates would have a winning mentality to ensure that they deliver for BN in the election.
He said the party had adopted a “micro-targeting” approach in the 12 parliamentary and 33 state seats traditionally contested by the party.
He said its election manifesto was ready and had been tailored to meet the needs of voters across various constituencies.
“Nobody knows Penang better than Gerakan,” he said.
Mah also took a swipe at DAP for constantly blaming the previous state government and refused to take responsibility for problems in Penang.
He lambasted DAP for approving 10 times as much projects in Tanjung Bungah.
In comparison, he said former Penang chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon only approved four projects in Tanjung Bungah from 2004 to 2008.
"DAP must answer why almost 39 projects have been approved in Penang.
“It’s easy to say yes to developers but Koh remained steadfast and protected the state,” he said.
From 1969 to 2008, Gerakan controlled Penang and was closely associated with the fortunes of the state.
In that time, there had been only two chief ministers in Penang - Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu and Koh, both from Gerakan.
In the 2004 election, Gerakan achieved its best electoral result by winning 10 parliamentary and 30 state seats.
However, in the 2008 election the party suffered its worst electoral defeat and lost Penang after an almost 39-year reign.
In the last polls, the party failed to improve its position when it lost one of its two remaining parliamentary seats.
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