Outgoing Penang chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon is expected to name state exco and Padang Kota state seat incumbent Teng Chang Yeow, 43, as his successor “within the next day or two”.

teng chang yeow new penang chief minister Sources said Koh appeared to have decided on Teng, a former political secretary of eight years, after coming under pressure from BN chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to make an announcement soon.

At 43, Teng is the youngest executive councillor in the state government.

Interestingly, he is also younger brother of Teng Chang Khim, an opposition leader in Selangor from rival party DAP.

The news came as a surprise as two other potential candidates - senior state exco Dr Teng Hock Nan and party’s rising star Lee Ka Choon - were leading the race for the state’s top post.

Another potential candidate, Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye was left out of the race after the party decided to retain him at the federal level.

He was not given a state seat to contest but will instead be defending his Bukit Bendera parliament seat.

Koh: continue speculating

Later in the evening, at a residents’ association function at Taman Sentul Jaya, Koh refused to be drawn into the matter.

"This is not the place to talk about it," he said.

When pressed by journalists, he declined to respond to questions on the succession plan.

However reporters managed to get more out of Koh when he was approached again later at the end of his event.

Koh said that he has not made a final decision on the matter as yet. He added that he was still accessing the voters’ sentiments.

“Don’t get over excited... it (the announcement) can be before or after polling date,” he said.

When asked to comment if Chang Yeow’s name was in his mind, Koh merely asked the media to “continue speculating”.

koh tsu koon 100907 Koh’s decision to remain mum on his successor has came under severe attack from the opposition parties, which argued that Penangites deserved to know their next CM.

Koh, who is also the Gerakan acting president, is not defending his Tanjung Bungah state seat as he is seeking to move to the federal administration after 18 years at the helm of the state.

Yesterday, Abdullah apparently showed his impatience with Koh for dragging his feet over the issue.

He told journalists to "ask Tsu Koon" when questioned by journalists regarding the naming of CM-designate.

It is believed Koh is worried that his decision could split the party in Penang and may affect Gerakan's performance in next week's national polls.