Teng to take on Kit Siang in GE14

PENANG Gerakan chief Teng Chang Yeow said he will take on DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang in a DAP turf in the 14th general election (GE14).

He said since Lim wants to know which constituency he (Teng) would be contesting, he would like to tell the latter that he would challenge him at a “DAP stronghold”.

Teng, who is also Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said in a statement on Wednesday that he wanted Lim to make an announcement to commit himself to contest in Penang before deciding on the constituency in which they would be facing off.

“Unlike a certain individual who is hushhush about whether he is coming back to Penang, neither did he state clearly whether he would contest in Penang nor guarantee that he would not leave Gelang Patah, I want to ‘clear a path’ for him to come back to Penang for a ‘do or die’ fight with me,” he said.

Teng said he is ever-ready to take on Lim in any of the constituencies the two parties had contested in the past, China Press reported yesterday.

He said he knows Lim wants to contest in Penang in GE14, but was afraid to announce his intention.

“He dare not tell his people that he has a personal agenda and he has to contest in Penang.

“Since he needs someone to speak up and give him an excuse, I will give him a reason to leave Gelang Patah (where Lim is the incumbent MP) and come and contest in Penang.”

Teng said Lim has left Penang for too long to know that after being routed twice in the last two elections, Gerakan no longer has any safe seat in the state.

“Every seat is a ‘black’ seat, be it Sungai Pinang or Batu Lancang. On the other hand, every seat is a strong seat for DAP, that the party can win with a majority of more than 1,000 votes no matter whom it fields.”

Teng contested in Padang Kota in 2008 and Bukit Tengah in 2013, losing to DAP and PKR candidates respectively.