Can we now forget the differences and try to work together?

I felt quite amused yesterday when the newspapers reported that Lim Guan Eng had stepped into enemy territory when he visited the Wawasan Open University. Okay, granted that the WOU is the brainchild and the baby of the Gerakan party, if an invitation had been issued to him to attend the inauguration ceremony to instal Dr Lim Chong Eu as the university's chancellor, why must the invitation cause a stir when it was accepted? The only comment I can make is that the Gerakan (and by extension, the Barisan Nasional) must learn to grow up. And that goes for the DAP too (also by extension, the Pakatan Rakyat). No point fussing over such excitement. Political rivalries and differences can run deep but it's time to stop trying to score points and get down to the business of the day which is to contribute to Penang's economy whether as the opposition party or the governing party. With a possible recession staring at us, Penang can either choose to look backward or look forward. Frankly, we don't have much of a choice.


The Star wrote: "Arriving about 10 minutes earlier than Dr Koh, who is also the Gerakan president, Guan Eng took his place at the VIP seat right up front. Ever the gentleman, Dr Koh immediately rushed over to where his successor was sitting to shake his hand and pose for pictures upon arrival. While State Gerakan chief and former state Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan did not look pleased, Gerakan secretary-general and former Penang Tourism Development and Environment Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow was his usual chatty self, cracking jokes with those around him."

The New Sunday Times was more diplomatic in its report, saying: "It is a rare moment when two former Penang chief ministers meet up with the current holder of the post. Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu (second from right), Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (right) and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (left) are bemused by the fact that they are attending the same function despite coming from different sides of the political divide."

(I don't know how much of this is true but I've heard that Dr Teng was overheard shouting at the organisers after Guan Eng arrived.)