Chow defends low turnout at Penang PH talk

The low visitor turnout at a Pakatan Harapan (PH) political talk at the Penang Chinese Town Hall on July 29 was not due to lack of support but because more preferred watching it online, state PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow says.

Chow said the political talk had been broadcast live online on social media channels.

"This is the new norm, so they switched methods of listening to the talk, online… we have Facebook Live, so the reach there is much bigger compared to physical.

"But we need to put in the effort, physical we also need to reach a wide target. Yesterday was just the first day. We have 13 more days with various forms of more important activities, such as walkabouts," he told reporters in George Town, in response to viral photos depicting empty seats during the PH talk.

The Penang DAP Facebook page meanwhile revealed that the talk was watched by 16,700 people online.

Chow, who is contesting the Padang Kota seat, also refuted allegations that those who attended the talk had left the hall when a DAP leader spoke in protest, saying the visitors had left as it was getting late.

He said the public response to campaigning was good based on feedback and observations.

"I attended the Perai service centre opening just now and was informed that during a candidate walkabout in Taman Chai Leng market, the response was very good. I was also warmly received in Bayan Baru just now, but we can’t be overconfident," he added.