GEORGE TOWN: The political tsunami which swept Penang ending Gerakan's almost four decade rule of the island was not unexpected.

The writing had been on the wall, especially in the wake of several national and local issues which had enraged most Penangites.

Topping the list of concerns was the perceived erosion of non-Malay rights under Bari-san Nasional. The opposition exploited the dissatisfaction of voters and this could be seen in the huge crowds which turned up at its ceramah here.

The issues ranged from alleged Umno dominance in the state administration and Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon's seeming inability to counter it.

DAP top guns such as Karpal Singh, Lim Guan Eng and blogger Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun coupled with Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim criticised Koh and the BN government.
However, the BN campaign here was also derailed by the focus on the chief ministerial succession issue.

Instead of focusing on the battle at hand, Koh and Gerakan leaders were preoccupied with this issue.

The final results for Penang are: DAP won 19 state seats, PKR (nine), Pas (one) and Umno (11).

The state seats won by DAP are Sungai Puyu, Bagan Jermal, Bagan Dalam, Berapit, Padang Lalang, Prai, Jawi, Tanjung Bungah, Air Putih, Pulau Tikus, Padang Kota, Pengkalan Kota, Komtar, Da-tuk Keramat, Sungai Pinang, Batu Lanchang, Seri Delima, Air Itam and Paya Terubong state seats.

PKR won the Penanti, Machang Bubuk, Bukit Tengah, Sungai Bakap, Kebun Bunga, Batu Uban, Pantai Jerejak, Batu Maung and Bukit Tambun state seats.

Pas retained the Permatang Pasir state seat.

Umno won in Penaga, Bertam, Pinang Tunggal, Permatang Berangan, Sungai Dua, Teluk Ayer Tawar, Seberang Jaya, Sungai Acheh, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Betong and Teluk Bahang.

For the parliamentary seats, DAP won seven, PKR (four) and Umno (two).

DAP's parliamentary wins are in Bagan, Bukit Mertajam, Batu Kawan, Bukit Bendera, Tanjung, Jelutong and Bukit Gelugor.

PKR won Bayan Baru, Permatang Pauh, Nibong Tebal and Balik Pulau.

Umno won Kepala Batas and Tasek Gelugor.

The decline of Koh's political fortune mirrors what happened to his predecessor Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, who also suffered a wave of dissatisfaction which led to his defeat.

In the run-up to the 1990 general election, the opposition had capitalised on voter discontent which was then centred on the development of Bukit Bendera.

The proposed re-development of Penang Hill (as Bukit Bendera is called) in the run-up to the 1990 general election had cost BN dearly, and forced the resignation of Dr Lim.

The opposition in the run-up to the just-concluded polls had capitalised on the proposed redevelopment of the Penang Turf Club in Batu Gantung.

In 1969, Gerakan won 16 out of 24 state seats. Dr Lim, the party's founder, became the second chief minister.