From tough guy Guan Eng to toned-down Chow

Dr Afif Bahardin talks about his experience working with Lim Guan Eng and Chow Kon Yeow and how both are similar yet different in their personalities and approach.

Penang executive councillor Afif Bahardin has worked with both Lim Guan Eng and Chow Kon Yeow. (File pic)

GEORGE TOWN: What has it been like, working with Penang’s two chief ministers from DAP? Dr Afif Bahardin of PKR says Lim Guan Eng and Chow Kon Yeow both want to get things done – but Chow is the calmer version of Guan Eng.

Both are very hands-on. Lim’s personality is a cross between assertive and aggressive, Afif said. “Chow is also like that. He also gets the job done. But he is a calmer, more toned-down version.”

Speaking to FMT in an interview, Afif said Lim needed to assert himself, faced with a federal government led by Barisan Nasional, to show people that Penang could face up to any discriminatory practices from BN.

“He had to be more active and aggressive then. There was a need then, because of a different scenario and environment. But now, we have already won at the federal level as well, so there is no need to assert ourselves like before,” said Afif.

Chow Kon Yeow was also open to ideas, Afif said. “Chow loves engaging with us. He also consults us on most of the things we want to do. Chow, who is also Padang Kota assemblyman, had the tendency to go out to meet the grassroots, and visit places, so as to better understand the related issues in the state.

“I believe he will be able to fill the void left by Guan Eng well and continue the great work he had done,” he said.

A demanding boss, but not as hard as medical specialists

It was tough to work under Guan Eng as he had high demands. “Having a workaholic chief minister means he also pushes you to work extra hard,” he said.

Afif, a medical doctor, said he had faced tougher times working under specialists. “When I worked in a hospital, you know how people work there… I had to serve my specialists, and most of my specialists were harder to keep up with compared with Lim. I have that experience so it is not a problem to me,” he said.

“It is not really hard to keep up with him. Actually the culture that he inculcates makes things move and progress and work.” He views Guan Eng as a man with a vision for the community and a very principled individual.

“He kept me on my toes, so that I would be able to produce the answers, to be able to understand a policy better, and to also highlight to him what was important in working as the government at the time,” he said.

Guan Eng likes new ideas, it’s just a matter of convincing him.

Afif said Lim would consult with his state executive council on every related matter in governing the state.

“One thing I like about him is that he allows progress to happen. He likes new ideas. He is open to new ideas. It is just a matter of convincing him, whether we will be able to implement them.

“That is why some of the initiatives we have in Penang, as well as several other programmes we plan to do, those are due to his guidance and flexibility,” he said.

Afif said Guan Eng was very respectful of the Muslim community. He would consult with other Muslim leaders in the state administration but did not interfere with decisions on Islamic matters.

“He would give more thought to some of the issues and help out some of the Muslim leaders in Penang,” Afif said.

Lim was Penang chief minister for two terms from 2008 to this year. During Lim’s chief ministership, Chow was a senior member of the state executive council. -FMT