I read from your newspaper that there is to be a battle for the position of Penang's chief minister.

This will be our fourth CM in fifty years of independence. Penangites must be very concerned for Penang's CMs, unlike in other states, tend to have very long staying power. It must be a position of great significance for individuals to want to hold on to it for decades at a time.

Koh Tsu Koon, if it is true that he will move to the Federal government, is an extremely cerebral politician. Anyone who has ever met him can tell you that he is a deep-thinker, always careful before saying anything. He will be a good influence on the cabinet and one wishes him all the best.

In London, Tony Blair, another contemporary of Koh's, is leaving office after a decade as PM. He has, according to the newspapers and the results of local elections, over-stayed his welcome. His legacy - a great British economy and the worst foreign debacle (Iraq) in British history - will always be viewed ambivalently.

Similarly, Koh's long tenure will also come under similar scrutiny and be viewed very ambivalently. His soft-spoken style - necessary when working with the likes of Dr Mahathir Mohamad - has not endeared him to very many in Penang.

So, the next CM has to do better. Like Lim Chong Eu, he/she will have to re-invent Penang and help the state make the leap into the knowledge-economy. Is Gerakan, with its new Wawasan University, up to the job? Ideally, he/she must be a Penangite, who can command the respect and cooperation of a very combative state. Has Umno or the MCA such candidates?

I say Umno because there is a very real possibility that the next CM might be a Malay. Perhaps a Penangite like Sharizat Abdul Jalil might be up for the job? Can the Chinese and Indians in Penang accept a Malay as chief minister?

At this stage, what Penang needs is a real leader that is from a party that not only wins elections but also the hearts and minds of the people. Whoever becomes the next CM must be able to lead Penang with confidence, intelligence and charisma.

He or she must be able to do three basic things within the first term of being CM. One, make sure Penang is clean without fear or favour. Whoever breaks the law, even if he/she is the Governor, he must be shamed and the book thrown at him. In Penang, hawkers are more powerful than ministers, it is said.

Two, he/she must bring in more foreign direct investment to Penang and improve the job situation. To do that, Penang must be clean and efficiently managed.

Thirdly, another related issue, there must be proper infrastructure, not just planning and rhetoric.

Now, with such challenges ahead for the next CM, he or she will have to be a very brave person to step forward for office. Politicians today are confused between being public servants and being served by the public.

If the latter is what they want, then they should take the place of monarchs and heads of state. The next CM must not be a mere figure head, he must work and work effectively to bring progress to Penang.