BN fires first salvo in Penang
Early anti-CM posters part of our dry run, says BN chairman Teng
GEORGE TOWN: Posters criticising Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng have sprung up in several parts of Penang island, in what is seen as the start of a poster war ahead of the general election.
Penang Barisan Nasional put up the posters in places such as George Town, Ayer Itam, Pulau Tikus and Bayan Lepas.
The posters were pasted at bus stops, trees, five-foot ways and lampposts, with some having been strung along major roads since Monday night.
Many of them were later taken down by Penang Island City Council workers.
State Barisan chairman Teng Chang Yeow described the move as “mission accomplished”, adding that it was also part of the coalition’s election dry run.
He said the posters were a reminder to Penangites that the Pakatan Harapan-led administration had failed to fulfil its promises after ruling the state for 10 years.
“The state government has failed to carry out 51 projects since they came into power in 2008.
“We will reveal the details of each project in days to come,” he said.
The poster features Lim with the backdrop of cars stuck in floods and a cleared hillslope.
It appears in various languages, with words like “Boasting Pakatan Harapan; 10 years; 51 empty promises” and “Da Pao Sian” in Mandarin, which literally means boastful.
The council, in a statement, said action could be taken against the perpetrators for pasting stickers
and posters on public property under the council’s Cleanliness and Public Safety Bylaw 1991 and 2000 (advertisement).
It said 55 workers were deployed to remove the posters in 69 places on Penang island.
“We will bill the perpetrator for the cleaning work,” it said.
It also advised those who wish to put up posters or advertisements to get permission by applying through the council’s licensing department to ensure the cleanliness of the city.
Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, in response, appealed to Teng to support the state’s Cleaner and Greener initiative.
“The posters have marred the clean image of the state and the environment. Some of them may pose a threat to motorists,” he said in a statement.
“If Teng continues with such poster wars, the council may not clean them up.
“Instead, it will be left there for the people to see and shame Teng until he cleans up the mess himself,” said Chow, who is State Local Government Committee chairman.
To this, Teng said: “I want to correct Chow. The posters are not as bad as what he has portrayed.
“If he really wants to heed the Cleaner and Greener initiative, then I would like to suggest to him to resolve the hill-clearing issue in Bukit Relau, and landslides in Balik Pulau.”