To a chorus of “Balik Pulau kepunyaan BN”, he told a 5,000-strong crowd gathered at SMK Seri Balik Pulau here that BN would bring change to Penang if voters did the right thing.

BN won back Balik Pulau in 2013 with Dr Hilmi Yahaya coming ahead of PKR’s Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik by 1,539 votes.

Hilmi, who is deputy health minister, had also represented Balik Pulau in 2004, comfortably defeating PKR’s Rohana Ariffin. He did not contest in 2008, and PKR’s Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff was returned by a narrow margin of 708 votes.

Najib told the crowd: “Make the right choice this time as Penang has suffered from floods, excessive hill development and higher water bills.”

He said the DAP-led state government had made “many sweet promises” at the last general election “but most of it was not fulfilled”.

Taking a dig at two issues afflicting Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and the state government, Najib said “I am not in Penang to see bungalows and tunnels. I am here to see the change that is about to come from BN. BN already has an excellent track record of governing, administering and developing the country.

“So, the end result is a future that is certain and determined,” Najib said after launching a health ministry event.

Najib then took aim at Pakatan Harapan’s “Save Malaysia” rhetoric, saying it smacked of hypocrisy because the opposition alliance was led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whom he said should be blamed for some of the issues facing the people.

Comparing his administration to that of Mahathir’s, Najib said sovereign debt had reduced significantly at 50.8% of the gross domestic product (GDP), compared with Mahathir’s administration which racked up debts totalling 103% of the GDP.

He said foreign reserves now stood at US$104 billion, compared with US$20 billion during Mahathir’s time.

“So the question here is, what are you trying to save Malaysia from. Looks like someone wants to save his cronies,” Najib said.

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