COMMENT When it comes to filling up top posts, the Penang government has no qualms about importing outsiders to hold important posts in the state.

Penangites have shown to have no issues with outsiders “hijacking” top positions in the state as long as the individuals have the talent and knowledge to contribute.

After all, voters had welcomed Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, a Johor native, with open arms since 2008.

Lim remains popular and the majority of Penangites prefer his leadership to that of the native, former chief minister Koh Tsu Koon from Gerakan.

But the recent stir over the appointment of DAP’s Seremban MP Anthony Loke to replace PKR Kebun Bunga assemblyperson Cheah Kah Peng as director on the Penang Hill Corporation board has raised a disturbing question: is cronyism taking roots in Lim's administration?

Loke is also the DAP’s national organising secretary and his recent appointment spurs speculation that Lim, the party's secretary-general, wants to consolidate his power in Penang.

Speculation aside, Loke’s appointment has highlighted the need for proper procedures to be put in place to ensure that appointments to high-level posts, including posts of directors in government-linked companies (GLCs), pass the anti-cronyism and good governance test.

Penang, since the opposition took over in 2008, had boasted about an open tender system based on its CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) principles.

If there can be open tender for state projects, why not a proper selection committee for directors’ posts in GLCs?

GLCs are not the private companies of ruling politicians; so they are beholden to the people, and all systems must be in place to weed out cronyism or corruption.

Loke’s appointment has also shed some light on how fragile is the working relationship in the opposition bloc - Pakatan Harapan.

Loke is taking up the quota which has been promised to PKR.

Is this any different then from Cheah and Bukit Tengah assemblyperson Ong Chin Wen – who was also sacked from his director's post - when they had reportedly reneged on their decision to vote out an Umno motion on reclamation in the state legislative assembly?

Good partnership

One can understand Lim's frustration when he felt "betrayed" and thus lost confidence and trust in the duo over their actions.

But surely, in the interest of good partnership in Pakatan, such administrative agreements as quota for positions for each party should be honoured?

Or else the rakyat, especially opposition supporters have to be bothered again by petty conflicts between the parties when all they truly want to see is close cooperation, goodwill and the determination to unite to claim Putrajaya.

The matter would not have been an issue if another qualified PKR representative had been appointed to the Penang Hill Corp directors' board.

Yet the question for Penangites is this: do we really want politicians to sit on our GLCs?

Professional expertise

Centre to Combat Cronyism and Corruption founding director, Cynthia Gabriel, had put it aptly when she said the Penang controversy could have been avoided if there were “good corporate governance measures” disallowing elected representatives from participating in GLCs.

She also said there can be exceptions on rare occasions when a particular politician’s professional expertise could be of value to a particular GLC's field.

No doubt, Loke may have the talent in the tourism sector as he heads the DAP tourism bureau, but is the DAP’s interest in Penang Hill only to promote tourism?

Penang Hill is not the private property of politicians; it belongs to the people of Penang and Penangites should have a say on what happen to the hill.

Penang Hill is all about environmental conservation and the ever-pertinent need to save our hill before it descends into the likes of the controversial Botak Hill ( pix ), which earned its name after being shaved by illegal clearing.

An environmental expert is needed to sit on the board of the Penang Hill Corporation; there is no shortage of talent among the activists who can contribute to the board.

Cheah , like DAP senior leader Lim Kit Siang , has been vocal since 2002 in opposing the Penang Outer Ring Road, which would have had an environmental impact on Gurney Drive.

Environmental protection had been high on the list of politicians since the ruling days of the BN.

If a politician needs to sit on the Penang Hill board, let it be someone who is willing to speak out without fear or favour in the interest of Penangites, let it be someone who is willing to go against the status quo - to preserve Penang Hill at whatever cost.

Remember, Penangites don't want only 'yes men' on board - an allegation the DAP and other opposition parties have continued to hurl at their rivals in BN.

SUSAN LOONE is a member of the Malaysiakini team.