New party to challenge DAP in Bukit Gelugor

GEORGE TOWN: A group of Chinese based NGOs have joined together to form a political party to contest the coming Bukit Gelugor by-election.
Penang Front Party (PFP) spokesman Saw Chong Tatt said they have shortlisted three candidates and will make a decision soon.
He said the party was formed to fight against the DAP which has a controlling stake in the Penang legislature and administration.
He said the DAP-led government was only selling state land and building luxury property which the poor could not afford and that Penang should be led by a local as Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was from Malacca.
"PFP was formed to help the people of Penang and state Barisan Nasional (BN)," he said in a press conference today.
Also present was PFP pro-term committee chairman Datuk Go Chui Tiong (pix) and Padang Besar MP Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin who is advising them in his personal capacity.
Go said the PFP currently had some 2,000 members in 44 NGOS.
On whether the state BN was informed of the move, Zahidi said they will be informed.
"But if they (BN) say cannot contest, it will be considered," he said.
When contacted, Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow said neither the state nor Gerakan was informed. He said Malaysia was a democracy, therefore anyone was free to form their own party.
"I welcome them into the boxing ring," he said when contacted.