Guan Eng: BN's foreign phantoms the real problem

The BN and their “foreign” phantom and dubious voters are the real issues facing Malaysian democracy, accused Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in a statement, refuting a federal minister’s claim  that the bumiputera agenda will be dead should Pakatan Rakyat take power.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop (right) equated his claim to what happened in 1511 when Alfonso de Albuquerque of Portugal conquered the Malay kingdom of Malacca, and foreigners ruled over locals cementing the grip of European powers in the region.

“This is a wrong comparison as the Portuguese were a foreign power and the 13th general elections will be decided by Malaysians.

“It is Pakatan that should be laying this allegation against BN and the Election Commission due to the presence of phantom and dubious voters, including foreigners as registered voters, who could decisive play a role in the next general election,” lambasted the Bagan MP.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general was responding to the minister’s statement reported by Bernama yesterday that “Malaysia will go back in time to 1511, when the bumiputera agenda did not exist, should BN lose the 13th general election”.

Speaking to reporters in Tasik Gelugor, Penang the BN leader said this was because the opposition pact did not have the capability to pursue the bumiputera agenda, he claimed, alleging the DAP-led state government was sidelining the Malays.

Lim (left) criticised the minister for resorting to “the tactics of race-baiting and fear-mongering” which he said is the same as the modus operandi of the rightwing Malay NGO Perkasa.

Lim said that by playing the “ketuanan Melayu” race card, Nor Mohamed and Umno are sending a strong signal that they do not care about non-Malay voters, adding that they are going against the inclusive policies of 1Malaysia mooted by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
                      
He also challenged Nor Mohamed to state how Malays in Penang have been neglected under Pakatan rule, extolling how it has instead increased welfare and social development allocations which benefitted many Malays.

Lim also mentioned that more than 70 percent of state government contracts are still being won by bumiputra-owned companies through open tenders.

In the run-up to the 13th general election, the BN has been consistently criticising states ruled by Pakatan, especially belittling their contribution to the Malays and bumiputeras.

However, allegations of foreigners and phantom voters in the electoral roll is a Pakatan staple in its anti-BN campaign.

Political analysts posited that brickbats flying between both sides will soon increase and the atmosphere will continue to heat up as election fever infects both sides.