| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
PENANG, MALAYSIA - Malaysia's Barisan Nasional (BN) has lost control of Chinese-dominated island state of Penang for the first time in a stunning election upset.
The BN has ruled Penang since 1969, led by its Chinese-based component party Gerakan.
But in Saturday's general elections, the opposition DAP made a clean sweep in Penang, winning all seven parliamentary and 19 state seats that it contested.
With the win, DAP will take over the state government from BN together with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which won four state seats out of 16 it contested and all four parliamentary seats.
In declaring its victory, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said it will form the next Penang state government in cooperation and coalition with PKR - "a government for all Malaysians embracing Malays, Chinese, Indians and other races," stressing that it will not rule alone but together with PKR.
"We also hope that PAS' wakil rakyat can help this new government," he added in a statement.
Guan Eng, the son of DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang, contested in both the Bagan parliamentary and Air Putih state seats, defeating Song Choy Leng and Tan Yoke Cheng, respectively of the MCA.
"We pledge that we will be fair, just and not discriminate against anyone. We pledge that we will assist those in need. We pledge that we will give equal opportunity to the talented people of Penang to prosper and develop Penang.
"We pledge that we will form a government of unity, united by our common love for democracy that respects basic human rights, political equality and socio-economic justice," said Lim.
Meanwhile a DAP party official, who declined to be named, said Lim Guan Eng has been nominated as the new chief minister of Penang.
The 47-year-old Lim, an accountant by training, was jailed in 1999 for a year for sedition after he organised mass rallies calling for the resignation of then Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik. He was barred for standing for elected office for five years following the conviction.
The shock defeat in Penang stirred memories of the last time the ruling coalition failed to win a two-thirds majority, in 1969, when deadly race riots erupted between majority ethnic Malays and minority Chinese.
"This is the biggest defeat ever since our (party's) founding 40 years ago," Penang Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon said. "I feel sad and surprised. I urge all Barisan Nasional members to stay calm and not to take any action that could jeopardise peace and security in the state."
Police officials vowed to use tough internal security laws against anyone spreading rumours and banned victory processions after the results. A victory procession triggered the 1969 violence. - CNA/so/ir
|
