The PKR leadership should name its nominee for the deputy chief minister 1 post in Penang within the next 48 hours to thwart unnecessary speculations.

lim guan eng penang pc 100409 Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said any delay in picking the candidate for the post reserved for a PKR Malay state assemblyperson in the Pakatan Rakyat state government will only prompt people to ask "if not now then when?"

Asked on the possibility of PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim not naming a nominee, he replied that the position was important for "PKR to fulfill its political aspirations and contribute effectively to the state government."

"But the state government hopes the PKR leadership would conclude this matter quickly. After all an extra hand would surely help to bolster the state government operations," he said.

Yesterday, Anwar indicated that he was in no hurry to name the nominees for the positions of DCM 1 and executive councillor vacated by embattled Penanti assemblyperson Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin since April 8.

anwar ibrahim pc 080409 03 "I could name them today, tomorrow or day after tomorrow," said the Parliamentary Opposition Leader.

It's best for Anwar to decide

Lim was clueless for the reason behind Anwar's purported delay to name the candidate for the post when the choices have been narrowed down to only two.

Besides Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Malik, who is a sitting executive councillor, and Fairus, being the only other Malay assemblyperson among PKR’s nine elected representatives, Sungai Bakap’s Maktar Shapee appears certain to fill up the vacant exco position.

PKR has three executive councillors in Lim's government with Bukit Tambun's Law Choo Kiang as the third.

"I think the question should be best left to Anwar to answer," said Lim after officiating the opening of a new economic hotel in George Town today.

Although the chief minister has the prerogative to appoint his choice of DCM 1, Lim has left it to Anwar to name his nominee to preserve ‘Pakatan solidarity, friendship and cooperation’.

"I am not power crazy either. That's why I leave it to the PKR leadership to choose," said Lim.

abdul malik abul kassim Rumours in PKR circles on the alleged involvement of Abdul Malik, who is currently in charge of state domestic trade and consumer affairs, and Islamic religious affairs, in the ousting of Mohd Fairus could be the reason for Anwar's delay.

Moreover, although PKR Tanjung division chief Abdul Malik is being backed by a top state PKR leader, many party division leaders in Penang appear not to favour him.