Penang CM: Guan Eng’s statement over councillor nominee inaccurate, unfounded and misleading

PENANG Chief Minister, Chow Kon Yeow, rebuked his predecessor, Lim Guan Eng, for remarks which he said unnecessarily created confusion and anger.

"I am surprised and shocked by Bagan  MP Lim (Guan Eng)'s remarks in the media over the appointment of Ng Yee Siang as a Seberang Prai City Councillor (MPSB) for 2026."

"I am now compelled to offer a clarification based on facts and sincerity," said the Batu Kawan MP.

Chow said the claims, made by Lim, who is also the DAP adviser, were false, unfounded, misleading and intended to incite dissatisfaction as well as hatred against him.

He said under the Local Government Act 1976, the state authority is empowered to appoint councillors, and that the Penang government had received nominations from various parties for both local authorities for the 2026 term.

“The Penang DAP submitted a list of nominations via a letter dated 15 December 2025 signed by the state DAP Secretary, Lim Hui Ying,” he said.

He clarified that the list nominated 10 individuals for consideration to be appointed as MBSP councillors, and Ng’s name was not in the list.

“Following a review by the local government division under the state secretary’s office, which is responsible for the process of appointing local authority councillors, it is confirmed that Penang DAP did not nominate Ng as a councillor for any of the city councils,” he said.

Ng's wife is also said to be among those nominated as councillors.

Chow went on to say that the state executive councillors agreed on December 17 last year to endorse the appointments as presented in the list prepared by the state secretary’s office.

“It is clear that the list of candidates considered and agreed upon for appointment did not include Ng, as he was not nominated by Penang DAP,” he said.

He said the relevant documents and official records confirmed this matter, so it clearly proved that allegations by Lim that Ng was removed from the list by the Penang chief minister are inaccurate, unfounded and misleading.

The allegations have the potential to create negative perceptions and dissatisfaction towards the chief minister, he stressed. – February 11, 2026