Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

GEORGE TOWN (Dec 22, 2009) : Tempers seemed to have subsided today between Gerakan and Umno in Penang, after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abd Razak forbade any more debate on who should helm Barisan National (BN) in the state.

But the embers were still far from being cooled.

Leaders from both sides were cautious about making any more comments to reporters over Umno’s desire to take over the chairmanship of Penang BN from Gerakan.

This heated episode, however, was just the latest spark in a series of agitations fuelled by Umno time and again in Penang over the past two decades or so. Umno, like MCA, had also been itching to have a bigger share of the BN cake, in the previous state government led by Gerakan since the early 70s.

So when Penang Umno chairman Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made the demand to chair Penang BN last Friday, people could have been forgiven for wondering what would happen if the BN wrested back the state government in the next general election. Would Gerakan still have the chief minister’s post? Or would Umno make a claim for it?

Koh Tsu Koon

In fact, Umno had already begun flexing its muscles, wanting greater power in the BN makeup soon after the 1990 general elections.

And in September 2008, the party’s Bukit Bendera division chief, Datuk Ahmad Ismail, taunted Gerakan during his infamous press conference that later saw former chief minister and Gerakan president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon’s photo ripped apart by Umno supporters. This prompted Gerakan to sever ties with Penang Umno.

Strangely, Ahmad had then also declared that MCA should hold the chief minister’s post among BN parties in Penang. It is no wonder that the Gerakan Penang youth vice-chief, H’ng Khoon Leng, has described Umno as "a thorn in the flesh" of BN.

But Umno’s demand to helm the Penang BN is not without its due credence. It now occupies all the 11 state assembly seats won by BN. Neither Gerakan nor MCA, or MIC for that matter, won a single seat in Penang.

What makes the equation even more intriguing is that MCA has also refuted Umno’s request and joined Gerakan in wanting a "status quo" in the BN leadership. (The post is currently held by Gerakan president Koh.)

Ahmad Ismail

In fact, Penang MCA vice-chairman Eng Hiap Boon has said the chairmanship should not be held by a non-Chinese as the dominant population in Penang was Chinese.

The tussle within the BN in Penang is a reflection of the politics of demographics here. Umno had won its seats by

mainly contesting in Malay-dominated constituencies, whereas all the constituencies lost by Gerakan and MCA were in Chinese-majority or mixed population areas.

Another contention that Gerakan has had to face from Umno is the accusation that it has been inactive for the past 18 months.

Many may find it hard to imagine how the two parties can work together after this latest altercation. But trudge together they will, thanks to the doctrine of necessity. However, with this recent episode the mood in Penang BN will become increasingly wary.

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