STATE POLLS | A former Penang DAP state assemblyperson has dared party chairperson Lim Guan Eng to announce his readiness to allow caretaker chief minister Chow Kon Yeow to hold office for another full term if Pakatan Harapan and BN retain the state in the ongoing elections.
M Satees, who claimed that he and five other incumbent representatives were dropped as candidates because they supported Chow to return as chief minister, accused Lim of personally refusing to publicly commit to the matter.
“I have challenged Lim to publicly state that he will not hold the chief minister’s post and will allow Chow to administer for another full term. He (Lim) has refused to do so until now.
“It has only been (other) people around him (Lim) who said it (Chow will be chief minister candidate), but not him,” Satees (above) told Malaysiakini.
“I, together with five others, was dropped (as candidates) because we supported Chow to remain as chief minister,” said Satees.
On July 14, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the DAP’s candidates selection committee has unanimously approved Chow to be the party’s candidate for Penang chief minister if Harapan once again forms the state government along with its new ally BN.
On July 28, several days after Harapan revealed its line-up of Penang candidates, Satees announced that he has quit DAP and will be defending his Bagan Dalam seat as an independent.
Chow, 64, first won his N26 Padang Kota state assembly seat in 2008 and was appointed as chief minister in 2018, succeeding Lim who at the time took up a federal position as finance minister during Harapan’s first stint in Putrajaya.
Chow has also since indicated his intention to serve as chief minister for a second term.
‘Temporary CM decision’
Despite Loke’s announcement and Chow’s personal response, Satees claimed that the DAP party elections next year could also see changes to the chief minister’s post.
“If Chow is replaced as Penang DAP chief, then there is a possibility that he needs to resign as chief minister and will be replaced by another person.
“Anything can happen in the party elections next year,” he claimed.
When pointed out that the Penang state constitution provides that a chief minister must be appointed from among individuals who never held the position for two terms, therefore disqualifying Lim, Satees insisted there could be future amendments made.
“You only need 27 state assembly members to amend the state constitution.
“Don’t forget, 17 out of 19 DAP candidates in Penang are aligned to Lim,” he claimed.
Lim will be defending his N23 Air Putih seat for the fourth term against Perikatan Nasional’s Kong Cheng Ann and Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Teh Yee Cheu. - Mkini
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