GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is unperturbed with Perikatan Nasional (PN) wanting to capture Penang.
This came after PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the coalition was likely to win 20 state seats in Penang, and all they needed was one more state seat to have a simple majority in the 40-seat state assembly.
Penang will be going to the state polls again along with five other states, namely Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
"They can continue to read (into it) (predict victory in the forthcoming state elections).
"On our part, we will continue to work hard. As I have said repeatedly in the past six months, we will focus on realising all promises made in our 2018 manifesto, which we have achieved about 90 per cent of it.
"We will also continue with our Penang 2030 Vision, which we have achieved 47 per cent of what we outlined in the past five years. This has served as an inspiration to others and they are looking to see how we can be successful," he said when asked to comment on the matter.
In his speech at the state PN convention, Muhyiddin had said that, for Penang, the expectation was to win 20 of the 40 seats in the state.
He said this meant that they had another one per cent left to ensure their victory.
"We are taking this as a challenge.
"Although winning in the six states will not have any impact at the federal level, it will be easier for us to take control at the federal level when the right time comes," he was quoted as saying.
Asked to comment on state PN chairman Datuk Dominic Lau call for the state chief ministership to be returned to a Penangite rather than someone from outside the state during the same convention, Chow said:
"It seems that they are dissatisfied that the people of Penang have voted us in to become the chief minister.
"This is the right of the voters to choose who they think is suitable to lead the state.
"As such, Lau and the others must respect the voters' choice," he said, adding that for the past three terms, Penang was led by a chief minister from outside the state.
Lau, in his speech, had asked the delegates from PN present for the convention if they could return the chief ministership back to a Penangites, to which they gave a resounding yes.
Meanwhile, Chow was also asked to comment on Muhyiddin's statement on the "lack of affection" (tidak mesra) in the relationship between Umno and DAP in the unity government.
He said, they (DAP) used to have very affectionate relationship with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), which Muhyiddin leads.
"That is until they (Bersatu) decide not to be affectionate with us.
"As for Umno-DAP relationship, this is a start. Of course there are differences in interest among all parties in this cooperation. Nevertheless, we managed these differences until we achieve a consensus.
"It may take time but the relationship between us is good. We will be going in as a coalition to face our opponents," he added.