"...will be fair to all citizens of the state, even those who have supported BN" - an applaudable and correct position to be taken by those who emerge victors in a democracy

You support me, I reward you - You voted against me, I will 'get' you - that is certainly not democracy. But that is unfortunately, how the Barisan Nasional notion of 'democracy' was perceived. 

Freedom of political affiliation was denied - and so in Malaysia, many supporters of Opposition political parties would not become members, or be openly involved in political party activities and programs.  

Constituencies, and even States that voted for the Opposition would be openly 'discriminated against' - a perception or fact?

Hence, when Guan Eng comes out and says,  "...that [the] Penang state government will be fair to all citizens of the state, even those who have supported BN during Sunday’s election....that Pakatan will treat all Penangites fairly regardless of race, religion and political background...”, I am hopeful that we may be moving towards a better future for Malaysia - towards a better understanding of democracy.

 

Guan Eng promises to be fair to BN supporters

2:34PM May 7, 2013

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has promised that his Penang state government will be fair to all citizens of the state, even those who have supported BN during Sunday’s election.
Guan Eng, who was sworn in earlier today to start his second term as Penang’s CM, said that the Penang Pakatan Rakyat was grateful to the people for proving that money politics cannot buy over the political allegiance of Penangites.

“Clearly Penangites valued a government that performed and delivered over the last five years much more than those who only appeared during the last five days of the campaign to buy votes,” he said in a statement.

“Pakatan will not follow BN’s racial games of bashing the Chinese voters and make the Chinese community scapegoats for BN’s loss. Instead, Pakatan will treat all Penangites fairly regardless of race, religion and political background,” he further added.

He said that all of Pakatan’s state assemblypersons will declare their assets annually, and this will be certified by an accounting firm.

Pakatan Rakyat won 30 out of 40 state seats in Penang on Sunday, gaining one more seat compared to the 2008 election results.

It also saw a rise in popular vote in the state, obtaining 66 percent of the popular vote in the state compared to 63 percent in the 2008 election.- Malaysiakini, 7/5/2013, Guan Eng promises to be fair to BN supporters