Endorse incumbent Penang CM for full 2nd term, ex-DAP rep dares Guan Eng

STATE POLLS | A former Penang DAP state assemblyperson has dared party chairperson Lim Guan Eng to announce his readiness to allow caretaker chief minister Chow Kon Yeow to hold office for another full term if Pakatan Harapan and BN retain the state in the ongoing elections.

M Satees, who claimed that he and five other incumbent representatives were dropped as candidates because they supported Chow to return as chief minister, accused Lim of personally refusing to commit to the matter publicly.

“I have challenged Lim to publicly state that he will not hold the chief minister’s post and will allow Chow to administer for another full term. He (Lim) has refused to do so until now.

“It has only been (other) people around him (Lim) who said it (Chow will be chief minister candidate), but not him,” Satees (above) told Malaysiakini.

“I, together with five others, was dropped (as candidates) because we supported Chow to remain as chief minister,” said Satees.

On July 14, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the DAP’s candidates selection committee has unanimously approved Chow as the party’s candidate for Penang chief minister if Harapan once again forms the state government with its new ally BN.

On July 28, several days after Harapan revealed its line-up of Penang candidates, Satees announced that he has quit DAP and will defend his Bagan Dalam seat as an independent.

Chow, 64, first won his N26 Padang Kota state assembly seat in 2008 and was appointed as chief minister in 2018, succeeding Lim, who then took up a federal position as finance minister during Harapan’s first stint in Putrajaya.

Chow has also indicated his intention to serve as chief minister for a second term.

‘Temporary CM decision’

Despite Loke’s announcement and Chow’s response, Satees claimed that the DAP party elections next year could also see changes to the chief minister’s post.

“If Chow is replaced as Penang DAP chief, then there is a possibility that he needs to resign as chief minister and will be replaced by another person.

“Anything can happen in the party elections next year,” he claimed.

When pointed out that the Penang state constitution provides that a chief minister must be appointed from individuals who never held the position for two terms, disqualifying Lim, Satees insisted there could be future amendments made.

“You only need 27 state assembly members to amend the state constitution.

“Don’t forget, 17 out of 19 DAP candidates in Penang are aligned to Lim,” he claimed.

Lim will defend his N23 Air Putih seat for the fourth term against Perikatan Nasional’s Kong Cheng Ann and Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Teh Yee Cheu.

‘Chow stays as CM if re-elected’

Earlier today, Loke said Chow will serve the full term as chief minister if he gets re-elected.

"Then, when the state government is formed, Chow will be named the chief minister.

"We will then provide Chow with the support to serve as chief minister for the full term," he was quoted as saying by The Star after attending an event in Penang today.

Loke was responding when questioned over speculations concerning a plan for Chow's removal in the next party election.

However, he urged the people of Penang to not listen to baseless allegations.

“Whose plan? Don't listen to allegations circulated by people who didn't get picked to contest in the state elections.

“I represent the views of the party, not anybody else. And I firmly state that Chow will serve as the chief minister for the full term," Loke added.

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