Guan Eng endorses Chow to succeed him as CM
Although the issue of successor is premature, Lim had to make public his stand due to mounting speculation. “We have to respond because of the intense media attention.”
BUKIT MERTAJAM: In an attempt to dispel speculation about his successor as Penang chief minister, Lim Guan Eng has publicly endorsed senior state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow to replace him in case he has to step down.
“Chow will definitely be my natural choice,” said Lim, who is DAP secretary-general. He stressed however that the eventual decision would be up to the party.
Chow is Penang DAP chairman.
Lim was charged with two counts of corruption in his capacity as a public servant and Chief Minister by the High Court in George Town on June 30.
About two weeks later the DAP announced its desire to call fresh elections to the state assembly in a departure from the long-standing practice of holding state elections in tandem with the parliamentary general election. The elections are not due until mid-2018.
Since Lim was charged, speculation has mounted about the party’s motive for early state elections and about who would succeed Lim should he be compelled to step down because of the criminal charges or possible conviction.
“Chow is my choice should anything happen to me,” Lim said today. “But finally this decision will be made by the party.”
He said this after officiating the launch of a Local Government Transformation Plan at the Seberang Perai Municipal Council headquarters in Bukit Mertajam.
Chow, who was present as state executive councillor for local government, said that although the issue of a successor to Lim was premature, Lim had to make public his stand due to mounting speculation.
“We have to respond because of the intense media attention,” he said, reiterating that it is up to the party to make the decision.
The state has two deputy chief ministers, Rashid Hasnon of PKR as Deputy Chief Minister I and DAP’s P Ramasamy as Deputy Chief Minister II.
However, there has also been speculation, since denied by the DAP about Anthony Loke, MP for Seremban, and Tony Pua, MP for Petaling Jaya Utara, being fielded in state seats. Lim said last week that all the candidates would be Penang-based.
On July 23, several banners with the words “P. Ramasamy our next CM”, together with his photo and the state flag and crest, were seen in various prominent locations in and around Prai. Ramasamy is the Prai state assemblyman.
Ramasamy responded by blaming “pro-BN (Barisan Nasional) elements out to embarrass me and my party.”
In a letter to the editor published by FMT yesterday, reader Timmy Say cited DAP’s partner, implicitly referring to PKR, as the beneficiary, should the chief minister’s post be vacated, by virtue of “being second in line in the island’s government.”
On another matter, Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, was asked for comment about the MCA announcing plans to open its membership to non-Chinese Malaysians in the near future. He said: “Can a leopard change its spots?”
He said this issue has been spoken about before by MCA. “This party is originally for Chinese, and now they want to change. They should ask Umno (to open to non-Malays) first. ”
MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon was quoted by The Sun on July 28 as saying that party president Liow Tiong Lai had in principle approved the move and the Youth wing has been asked to start engaging non-Chinese to allow them in as “associate members” as a start.
EARLIER REPORT:
LGE says Chow ‘natural choice’ to take over
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