Tough task ahead for Chow in forming new Penang exco?

GEORGE TOWN – Facing a resurgent opposition, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow now contends with an uphill task in selecting the best names as two deputy chief ministers and eight state executive councillors

Chow, 65, who is fresh into his second term after receiving a two-third mandate over the weekend, had just punched in on his first day on the job when reports emerged of flash floods and unusual storms in the Batu Ferringhi tourism belt.

This time, there was no senior state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh to explain climate change’s ill-effects on Penang.

All eyes are now on Chow as he is expected to unveil the state government line-up within the next several days.

Various names among the 28 winning candidates of the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) unity coalition have been touted, with some speculation making its rounds on social media.

The executive councillors have to be on their toes, as they are squaring off with 11 opposition members from Perikatan Nasional (PN), who are eager to make their mark here.

Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican finds himself in an unique situation, as he becomes the first ever cabinet minister to contend for an executive position in the new state government. 

If he returns, it will mark for the first time in some 15 years that BN is back in the Penang government. 

His name is bandied around for a deputy chief minister I post or a senior state executive council member.

Another name PKR may recommend is academician Prof Datuk Mohd Abdul Hamid, who won the Batu Maung state seat, for the deputy chief minister post.

Chow is without the core of his previous government, as six state executive councillors members, including the two deputy chief ministers, were not renominated to contest in the last election.

They are Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, P. Ramasamy, Phee Boon Poh, Chong Eng, Yeoh Soon Hin, and Soon Lip Chee.

Chow has to count on his most senior assemblymen now – Jagdeep Singh Deo and Zairil Khir Johari – to assist him in achieving the Vision 2030 plan, the centrepiece of Chow’s previous administration.

Three names have also emerged for the other deputy chief minister post, which is usually reserved for the Indian community.

They are Jagdeep, Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo, who won the Prai state seat, and A. Kumaresan, the two-term Batu Uban assemblyman.

Berapit assemblyman Heng Lee Lee, a former journalist, is also emerging strong as a contender to replace DAP Wanita’s Chong Eng in Penang.

She may have to contend with Lim Siew Khim, who is a three-term Sg Pinang rep.

“If Heng is indeed the one, she has big shoes to fill, as Chong Eng was a seven-term representative,” said former Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun.

Bayan Lepas assemblyman Azrul Mahathir Aziz, who defeated Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dominic Lau, may be a dark horse in the state executive council’s possible line-up, but he could be rewarded for his ousting of Lau, a Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman.

Other names bandied about are Ong Ah Teong, Joseph Ng and Daniel Gooi.

Another emerging name is two-term assemblyman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye. 

Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai, political secretary to DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, is also poised to make a comeback to the state government after serving as the housing and local government committee chairman from 2008 to 2013.

Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon, who gave PH a scare just before polling when he fainted in his operations room, is also under the radar to be appointed as a state executive council member, as he is after all a three-term elected representative.

Political insiders said that the new team under Chow has a tough challenge ahead, as they not only have to deal with a resurging opposition and emboldened non-governmental organisations but also with a need to meet the electorate’s high expectations.

The people of Penang are awaiting three promises to materialise: three new highways to alleviate congestion, the proposed light rail transit, and better climate change management, which ties in to mitigating an unusual rate of flooding, landslides and storms.

There are also renewed expectations on the state’s conservation and preservation of its heritage enclaves and quality jobs creation, in addition to cost-of-living matters. – The Vibes, August 14, 2023