Yeoh proposed as PPC chairperson after being dropped as candidate

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke will propose for caretaker Penang Tourism, arts and culture executive council member Yeoh Soon Hin to be named the next Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairperson.

He said Yeoh will also be proposed as a parliamentary candidate when the next general election comes around.

This comes after Yeoh, also Paya Terubong incumbent was dropped from the party’s state candidate line-up.

Loke made the proposal when unveiling the list of candidates contesting in the upcoming Penang state election.

Speaking at a press conference after announcing the party's candidate list, Loke said it would take some time to sort out Yeoh’s proposed appointment.

This process must go through Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“I have to go through the process to nominate his (Yeoh) name to the prime minister and then for the Agong to give his consent (to the appointment).

“Even though I can recommend it, it must receive consent from the Agong.

“For the Penang Port Commission, it’s very special because this particular post must be consented by the Agong. So that process will take place and it will take some time,” he told reporters at JEN Penang Georgetown Hotel in George Town, Penang.

Yesterday, in unveiling DAP candidates for the Selangor state polls, Loke proposed for Seri Kembangan incumbent Ean Yong Hian Wah, who dropped from contesting, to be the next Port Klang Authority chairperson.

Meanwhile, in the press conference today, Loke asserted the need to “rejuvenate” DAP by presenting fresh faces to contest elections.

He explained this was to ensure that DAP could stay relevant and dynamic in the party’s crusade.

“It’s to bring a breath of fresh air and this is among the processes that need to be done by all political parties. DAP will not hesitate in that process.

“This ‘renewal’ will be done every election, so that’s a normal process.

“Maybe one day, in the next one or two elections, I will also be replaced. The party takes precedence, no one leader is irreplaceable,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement earlier today before Yeoh’s status was unveiled, Selangor Gerakan chairperson Henry Teoh condemned the appointment promised to Ean Yong as a political appointment blatantly made to serve party interests.

“(Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim seems to have strayed far from his principles.

“He has followed Umno’s political footsteps in appointing cronies to positions in government-linked companies for party interests.

“Therefore, I urge the people to see and judge Pakatan Harapan and BN leaders, who are using the people’s votes to secure positions for their own agenda,” he said. - Mkini