QUESTION marks continue to surround over who will become the Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman after former state tourism executive councillor Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin was appointed to the newly revamped Tourism Malaysia board of directors.
Yeoh, a former three-term Paya Terubong assemblyman and single-term state executive councillor, was not fielded by DAP in the state elections in August.
As part of what is believed to be an appeasement, the party’s secretary-general Anthony Loke made reference to Yeoh as the next chairman of PPC when announcing the party’s list of candidates for the state polls.
But since then, the matter has gone silent, sparking speculation that Yeoh may not be given the post, especially since he has since then been appointed as deputy chairman of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board by Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Yeoh was also slated to run for a parliamentary seat in the next general election, but his recent acceptance of a Datukship title from the state government indicated that the lawyer may no longer want to serve in public office.
Usually, DAP leaders only accept state awards upon their retirement from active politics.
Previously, PPC chairman’s post was held by Penang MCA chief Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, who has since stepped down after Pakatan Harapan became the lead coalition for the Madani national unity government.
Before Tan, the post was held by current Penang Football Association chief executive officer Jeffery Chew, who was once an aide of former chief minister Lim Guan Eng.
Yeoh and Chew could not be reached for comment, but officials within PPC said that there is no definite time frame on when the post will be filled.
As the quandary about who will fill the post continues, the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), the operator of the country’s oldest port, continues to make plans to upgrade the facilities.
As the regulatory authority under the transport ministry, PPC’s role is mainly to regulate and police the port’s management.
PPSB is the operational entity under the Finance Ministry.
With Penang being a leading exporter among the 13 states in the country, PPSB chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan has indicated reaffirmation to ensure the facilities are in optimum performance from the cargo clearance terminals at both the island and Butterworth ends.
The newly introduced vehicles in the cross-channel ferry service continue to operate, providing services between both the island and the mainland, while PPSB supports the initiative to encourage more public transport commuters. – The Vibes, November 15, 2023
