Unease in DAP over strained ties between Chow, Guan Eng

 

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow (right) and his predecessor, Lim Guan Eng, who appear to have been at odds recently. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Unease is said to be swirling in DAP over strained ties between Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow and his predecessor, Lim Guan Eng, with party sources alluding to a growing disquiet over the purported discord between the two leaders.

Signs of dispute arose in October when Chow spoke of a plot to topple him as chief minister over the proposed sale of state land to a developer. Lim, the Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman, had demanded proof of the claim.

Tension appeared to continue in the state assembly, sparking concern among senior DAP members who feared the repercussions on the party’s image and its ability to govern effectively.

“All of the seniors are unhappy,” a senior party member said on condition of anonymity.

“We’ve worked hard from being the opposition to being part of the government. Now, we are fighting to overturn the barrel.

“In Chinese, there is a saying: you have a pot of rice, but everyone struggles for it and it falls. Now, no one has anything to eat.”

The senior member said Chow and Lim should “talk it out”.

“You are fighting for control rather than fighting for the people. We have avenues to discuss and settle your differences. Use that, rather than coming out in the open.”

A grassroots leader, meanwhile, said DAP could lose the next election if the perceived infighting continued.

“This infighting will break up the party. We appeal to the top two to patch up, or else the grassroots will also leave the party,” the member said.

Political analysts previously said the strained relations between Lim and Chow might impact their reputations, but would leave their party’s popularity intact given the fear of Perikatan Nasional.

Lim had named Chow to succeed him as Penang chief minister in the event that Pakatan Harapan won the 2018 polls.

He went on to become the finance minister, a position he held until February 2020, when the PH government fell following the resignation of then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. - FMT