A New Party Backed By UMNO Vows To Build A Casino In Penang If They Win In GE14
The party was registered on 9 September.
By Tang Ruxyn — 12 Oct 2016, 12:59 PM
There's a new Chinese-based political party in Penang and it wants to build a casino in the state
Penang Front Party (PFP), which was registered to the Registrar of Societies on 9 September, has announced its intention to contest against DAP in the upcoming 14th General Election.
According to the party's pro tem chairman Lee Poh Kong, the party has intentions to build a casino - only for tourists - in the state if they win enough seats to secure the state administration.
"This will generate RM3 billion in income, which would greatly help the state economy," he was quoted as saying by NST.
1. The party adviser is from UMNO
Lee said that they had tried to register their party since November last year but faced many difficulties since they do not have political links.
"We enlisted the help of Padang Besar member of parliament Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin from UMNO, who registered the party and will serve as our adviser," he was quoted as saying.
2. It is a Barisan Nasional (BN)-friendly party
The new party intends to contest in 25 state seats in the upcoming general election but not in constituencies won by UMNO, said the party adviser Zahidi.
"We are fighting for the rights of the people in Penang as an alternative option to DAP," he reportedly said in a press conference on Monday, 10 October.
The Padang Besar MB also added that they would leave the parliamentary seats to MCA and Gerakan to contest.
3. Gerakan and MCA or Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow was not informed of this new party's formation
Teng, who is on a six-months sabbatical as Gerakan chairman since 15 May, is apparently in the dark about this new pro-BN party.
Responding to the press' question if Teng was informed of the party's formation and aims, Lee said that they would only discuss the matter at the party's first meeting. He added that they will get the party's manifesto done soon to enable the public to know them better.
If the name Penang Front Party sounds familiar, it's probably because a group of NGOs had set up a party with the same name — two years ago!
In April 2014, local media reported that a group of 44 Penang Chinese non-governmental organisations (NGO) was setting up a new party called the Penang Front Party (PFP) to contest against DAP during the Bukit Gelugor by-election on 25 May 2014.
However, their plans obviously did not materialise as Malaysia did not see any representation from the party.
It is not known whether this new party that was formed on 9 September 2016 is the same as the one in 2014. It is, however, confirmed that the formation of both parties was assisted by the same person - Padang Besar MP Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.
Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow also sang a familiar tune then as he reportedly said that the state nor Gerakan was informed about the new party in 2014.
The only difference is that PFP is said to have some 2,000 members back in 2014 by the then pro tem chairman Datuk Go Chui Tiong, while this party's pro tem chairman Lee Poh Kong said that the party only has 100 members.