Guan Eng to get family member to succeed him?
SPECULATION: CM must clear the air on issue, says Penang Umno chief
HAS DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng created a succession line of proxies to replace him as Penang chief minister should he lose the court battle over the two graft and power abuse charges?
Penang Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said speculation was rife that Guan Eng was planning to have either his wife, Betty Chew, his father, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, or his sister, Lim Hui Ling, take office.
Zainal said the move could be carried out by dissolving the state assembly for snap polls, and have Guan Eng’s family members nominated as election candidates.
“Guan Eng must clear the air over this speculation. Is it true that he is placing a family member as a proxy to succeed him as chief minister?” said Zainal at Penang Umno’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house here yesterday.
DAP holds 19 of 40 seats in the assembly.
“Why is Guan Eng moving to dissolve the state assembly where DAP has the most seats? He still holds mandate from the party’s central working committee and DAP state lawmakers.
“The dissolution is seen as a manoeuvre by him to nominate a family member as replacement should his court battles go south,” Zainal said.
He also said the proposal for snap polls was made unilaterally without consulting its pact partners.
“Guan Eng made the eleventh hour decision (to withhold polls) after realising PKR is against it.”
He said circumstances surrounding the snap polls controversy revealed widening cracks between opposition Penang Umno Liaison Committee chairman (left) sharing a light moment
at the state Umno’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in George Town yesterday. Pic by Shahnaz Fazlie pact Pakatan Harapan members.
Talks of a snap election became clear when Lim claimed trial to two counts of abuse of power and graft at the Penang High Court last month.
Lim was charged with abuse of power and corruption over the alleged approval of a rezoning application by Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert agricultural land for residential use, and over the purchase of his RM2.8 million house from businesswoman Phang Li Koon at below the market value of RM4.27 million.
He is facing a jail term of not more than 20 years and a fine of five times the value of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted on the first charge, and up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine and forfeiture of property, upon conviction on the second charge.
In Kuala Lumpur, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim said having snap polls in Penang was akin to a “life preserver” meant to save Guan Eng’s political career and to serve the personal interests of DAP.
“They are willing to burden the people of Penang as long as their political agendas are served.
“Holding snap polls before the trial will enable DAP and Guan Eng to manipulate the people’s sentiments and emotions,” said Irmohizam yesterday. MIC deputy president at a media briefing on the party’s 70th anniversary celebration in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Nurul Shafina Jemenon themselves due to previous party disputes would be invited to the party’s anniversary celebration.
“Let bygones be bygones. The aim here is to have a united community. Our unity will strengthen the party.
“At the same time, we have been doing everything to reach out to the community, from being active at all MIC service centres, to pushing for the economic development of the poor,” he said.
Next month, MIC will celebrate its anniversary at its branches.
The main celebration will be officiated by Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Malaysia Agro-Exposition Park in Serdang on Aug 6.