GEORGE TOWN – Detractors have seized the opportunity to criticise the public disagreement between Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and his predecessor Lim Guan Eng over the anti-hopping amendment to the state constitution.
Gerakan veteran Wong Mun Hoe said the public dispute between the two leaders stems from a belief that DAP can do no wrong.
He added that such disagreements can be resolved behind closed doors as DAP should have a process on how to handle differences in opinion.
Meanwhile, Gerakan vice-president Datuk Baljit Singh urged Lim to not interfere with Chow’s administration as Lim’s time as chief minister was over in 2018.
“In my mind, I feel that Chow is correct to wait for the high court decision on the four assemblymen (who defected to Bersatu).”
Lim is currently Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman, both constituencies in Penang.
Lim has for the third time issued statements urging Chow to hold a special legislative sitting to amend state laws to be in line with the constitutional amendments passed in Parliament in July.
He singled out State Constitution Article 14(A) for amendment to be in line with the federal constitution’s Article 10(1)(c), which stipulates that those expelled from their parties need not vacate their seats.
The state constitution holds that those who have left their parties must vacate their seats.
For Chow, he said there was no rush pending the Penang High Court hearing of a challenge filed by the four assemblymen.
Former Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun – who joined Warisan – said he was perplexed why Lim cannot discuss the issue with Chow behind closed doors, away from the glare of the media here.
“It seems that they are not speaking to each other but through issued statements.”
Ooi also urged DAP members to not wash their “dirty linen in public”, and instead focus on addressing the rising living costs and political uncertainty.
“I think it is unwarranted for Chow to indicate that Lim is shortchanging the Penang people over Article 14(A) when the latter was trying to streamline the state legislation with the federal constitution.” – The Vibes, September 2, 2022
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