KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 — DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng and nine other Penang state assemblymen from DAP today denied having spoken to news portal Malaysiakini about a purported internal push for him to replace Chow Kon Yeow as the chief minister of Penang.
Just hours after Malaysiakini published its report titled “Internal DAP push to oust Chow, re-install Guan Eng as Penang CM” by citing three unnamed state assemblymen purportedly from Penang, the 10 Penang state assemblymen stressed that they did not speak to the news portal.
The 10 Penang lawmakers said it would be incorrect to suggest any of them were the three lawmakers who were said to have spoken to Malaysiakini.
“This article is malicious and unfair by not mentioning who the three State Assemblypersons are, thereby putting all the 10 ordinary State Assemblypersons from Penang under unnecessary public suspicion.
“We solemnly attest that we have not spoken to Malaysiakini on this article. To attribute the report to any of us three Assemblypersons is untrue and false. Thus, we are unable to ascertain where Malaysiakini get their baseless information from,” the 10 Penang lawmakers said in a brief statement today.
In the same statement, the 10 lawmakers said it is DAP which makes the decision on who would be the candidates for positions.
“Candidature for seats and posts are decided by the party and we will respect the party’s decision. We will not be drawn into any attempt by irresponsible parties to divide and distract us from our objective of serving the people and ensuring Penang’s future.
“Winning the coming state elections is paramount to prosper Penang and strengthen political stability as well as fortify the unity government in Putrajaya for the next five years,” they said.
The 10 DAP lawmakers who signed the statement are ordinary Penang state assemblymen, or in other words those who do not have any government positions within the Penang state government, such as chief minister, Penang exco members or political secretary to the chief minister.
The 10 who issued the statement are Air Putih assemblyman Lim, followed by assemblymen Lim Siew Khim (Sungai Pinang), Jason H’ng Mooi Lye (Jawi), Heng Lee Lee (Berapit), Joseph Ng Soon Siang (Air Itam), Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lancang), Daniel Gooi Zi Sen (Pengkalan Kota), Satees Muniandy (Bagan Dalam), Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Sri Delima), and Chris Lee Chun Kit (Pulau Tikus).
Separately, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke today said he had not received any official push for Lim to return as Penang chief minister to replace incumbent Chow.
“It was reported that three Penang assemblymen are behind this move, but I have not received any memorandum letters so far, so it is only rumours,” Loke told reporters this afternoon.
This afternoon, Chow reportedly said he had not read the Malaysiakini news report, but also said he does not know who the three Penang lawmakers are as none of the lawmakers had expressed displeasure towards him since he became chief minister after the 2018 general elections.
Chow reportedly said his focus is on ensuring Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the state election instead of a second term as Penang chief minister.
In the Malaysiakini report, the three state lawmakers who had declined to be named had allegedly told the news portal yesterday of their wish to see Lim contest in the next Penang state elections and to return as Penang chief minister, claiming that Chow was ineffectual, slow and sluggish in comparison to Lim who was seen as a strong leader.
Malaysiakini also said its sources were unclear what Lim’s own view was.
