Do not intimidate the supporters

China Press 17 May 2016

What is DAP’s greatest problem?

Not that their manpower and wealth are not as resourceful as the Barisan Nasional but some of their fanatic supporters. Many are put off by them.

The level of fanaticism reaches such level:

1. You disagree with DAP’s arguments, policy and then you are labelled as traitors belonging to DAP’s enemy.
2. You do not vote for rocket. Here they say your decision is respected. On the other hand you are reminded not to complain about escalating price of goods and deterioration in security.
3. If you dare to criticise the DAP-led Penang state government policy, be ready to be “attacked” by fanatic supporters as well as DAP leaders. Even if you have voted rocket in elections.

 

Such fanaticism has reached a stage where the workers’ settlement project at Bukit Tambun which has been approved by the Seberang Perai Municipal Council but put on hold by the state government, netizens say: “If they do not like it, it is ok. Do not approve. Let the foreign workers live in residential areas. When girls are raped on their way to school, touch wood. Stupid residents. The state government is helping you, not harming you.”

Upon hearing this, one is uncomfortable and angry too.

Does anyone want to have a foreign workers’ settlement as his neighbour?

What does Penang DAP state assemblyman Lau Keng Ee say?

“The number of foreign workers continues to increase in Pengkalan Kota (Lau’s constituency). If the state government does not take any action to resolve, Pengkalan Kota may become “Bangla Kota”.

Lau points out the issue. If the state government does not take action against house owners for renting middle and low cost units to foreign workers, he would need to defend the rights of voters in the area.

Support is not absolute

People in residential area do not wish to turn the area into a foreign workers’ settlement. The two areas, Bukit Tambun and Juru are affected by the settlement for foreign workers. Residents are entitled to express their worry and turn down the settlement.

Where is the settlement to be built? How to overcome house owners renting middle cost and low cost units to foreign workers? The government should look for solutions.

DAP and its supporters have learned a valuable lesson from the Sarawak state elections. Do not take the support by voters for granted and do not treat differing views as “opposition”.

Recently various views are aired on the Penang Transport Master Plan. Those individuals or non-governmental organisations who criticise the Rocket are actually voters who have supported the DAP for change.