Gerakan national vice-president Datuk Mah Siew Keong said today that Gerakan is still the best party to lead the Barisan Nasional coalition in Penang in the next general election.

He said Gerakan had a good track record in leading the coalition in Penang in the past general elections since 1972.

“We have had achieved tremendous success for the Barisan Nasional, especially in leading the Penang state government after so many general elections until 2008. The record speaks for itself,” Mah said in a statement.

Mah said he disagreed with the views of National Umno Youth Information chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Penang Umno deputy chairman Datuk Zainol Abidin Osman that Gerakan should allow Umno or other BN component parties to lead the coalition because Gerakan had given up on wrestling Penang from Pakatan Rakyat.

Mah pointed out that Gerakan had never given up aspirations to either recapture Penang or win seats.

“We should not misunderstand Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan’s intention when he said that we cannot win back Penang,” Mah said.