“It’s all speculation,” was the response from Deputy Information Minister Chia Kwang Chye when asked to comment today on reports linking him to the chief minister’s post in Penang.

gerakan egm pc 270307 chia kwang chye He was quick to dispel any notion that he was the favourite to take over from Dr Koh Tsu Koon following the latter’s announcement that he would be moving to the federal level.

"My name being nominated? This is mere media speculation. Everyone, including myself, do not know the three names proposed by the chief minister to the prime minister," Bernama quoted Chia as saying today.

Chia further said that the matter would be decided by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Yesterday Koh, who is also the Gerakan acting president, said that he was ready to give up his chief ministerial post and contest a parliament seat in the upcoming general election.

"My priority is to go for a federal post. However, it will involve a change in leadership in the state," he was reported as saying.

He also had said that he had informed the matter to the prime minister and furnished three names to be his successor. However, he declined to reveal their names.

He added that Abdullah told him that he needed “a few days to decide on who to choose as my successor”.

gerakan-ndc-270805-siapa2 It is believed that Koh submitted the names of Chia, Parliamentary Secretary to the Health Ministry Lee Kah Choon and state exco member Dr Teng Hock Nan ( photo ) to Abdullah.

Reacting to this today, Chia, who is also the Gerakan secretary general, refused to comment if he was prepared to take over from Koh as the new chief minister.

"If my name is in the list, then I will consider," he added.

One rules himself out

Chia, who is member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera, said he had not been contacted by Koh on the matter.

"All of us don't even know when the general election will be held, so let the prime minister decide on the matter."

Chia is widely seen as a candidate backed by the state Umno leadership. The locals however are hoping that Teng would be given the nod as their next chief minister.

Speaking to the Chinese media yesterday, Teng refused to comment on the matter, stating that he was not sure if his name was on the list.

malaysiakini discussion 050208 lee kah choon Meanwhile, as for Lee ( photo ), Chinese media reports quoting him indicated that he has ruled himself out of the race by expressing his wish to continue to contest and serve in his Jelutong parliamentary constituency.

Koh, the state assemblyman for Tanjung Bungah, has been chief minister of Penang for four terms, since 1990. He took over the mantle of Gerakan from Lim Keng Yaik last year.