‘CHOW IS RIGHTFUL CM’
He is most senior DAP leader in Penang, has strong support, says PCM deputy chief
PENANG DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow is the rightful chief minister, not Lim Guan Eng, said Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) yesterday.
PCM deputy president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan said Chow was the most senior DAP leader in the state, and by convention, the most senior state DAP official should be chief minister.
“Chow has proven his administrative ability and is deserving of support. DAP members are solidly behind Chow, who retained his chairman post by polling the most votes.”
Huan said Chow was state DAP chairman even before the opposition won the state in 2008, and he could not understand why Lim, who is not a Penangite, was appointed chief minister.
During the opposition pact’s state convention in February, Chow caused a stir when he announced that the pact was considering limiting the tenure of the chief minister to two terms.
Lim had indicated that Chow would be his successor if the former was convicted of corruption.
Lim has been accused of abusing his power to benefit himself and his wife by approving the rezoning of a plot of land to Magnificient Emblem Sdn Bhd.
He is also accused of buying a bungalow in Jalan Pinhorn, from businesswoman Phang Li Khoon, at below market value.
Huan claimed Lim and his wife only moved to Penang after they were rejected by the party in Melaka.
“Lim and his wife were so unpopular that they were voted out from the Melaka DAP committee in 2005,” he claimed.
He said many DAP supporters were sad that Lim and his father, Kit Siang, collaborated with former nemesis Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to gain Malay support.
“Both father and son are willing to stoop so low to the point that DAP dropped the rocket logo in the 14th General Election.”
He claimed the Lims were getting rid of leaders they did not like by fielding them in tough seats.
He said the Lims could not take criticism, but loved criticising.
Huan will contest against Guan Eng for the Bagan parliamentary seat in a four-cornered fight with MCA’s Datuk Michael Lee Beng Seng and Malaysian United Party’s Koay Xing Boon.