No movement to oust Chow as Penang CM, says Loke, quashing speculation

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has given a ringing endorsement for Chow Kon Yeow to complete his second term as the chief minister of Penang.

Quashing speculation that the Penang DAP chairman may be ousted from the state government’s top post, Loke told a press conference that it is the media that is driving such rumours and speculation.

“I was confronted with the issue earlier, but I chose to make a statement in Penang that there is no movement to dethrone Chow,” Loke said in George Town today.

Chow is currently serving his second term as chief minister and Loke expects him to remain in office until it ends.

Chow was sworn in after leading Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) to victory in the last state election in August 2023.

Although DAP won all 19 seats it contested, coalition partners PKR and Amanah, as well as new ally Barisan Nasional failed to secure all the seats they eyed.

PH only controls 29 seats in the 40-seat assembly, but it still enjoys a two-third majority.

Loke was speaking at Penang DAP’s annual convention at The Top. He said that DAP must now focus on serving the people who voted it into government.

“Do not trust the rumours, there is no move to replace Chow. There is no such movement (gerakan) to displace Chow. There is no more ‘Gerakan’ in Penang,” he quipped in a gibe at the Gerakan political party, which led Penang for four decades before it was defeated in the general election of 2008.

“So, to Chow, don’t listen to all these kinds of rumours. All these (rumours) are rubbish.”

Chow had earlier hinted in a speech of attempts to undermine his leadership here.

Chow, who is Batu Kawan MP and former political secretary to party elder Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, saw his credibility challenged recently when the Penang Development Corporation, which he chairs, was forced to rescind a deal with a construction firm over the sale of industrial land at below market value.

Meanwhile, Loke, who is also the federal transport minister, announced that Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin, a former state executive councillor, remains his choice to head the Penang Port Commission (PPC), the regulatory body for the Penang Port.

This is despite his recent appointment as the deputy board chairman of Tourism Malaysia, said Loke.

He explained that there is no problem with Yeoh holding both positions. He stressed, however, that he needs to wait for consent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the PPC appointment.

It is a procedure which Yeoh must go through, said Loke. – The Vibes, November 19, 2023