Loke rules out hattrick CMs, says Penang constitution crystal clear
Alyaa Alhadjri
Published: Sep 6, 2024 8:48 PM
The Penang state constitution is clear that those who have served two terms as chief minister cannot helm the position for a third time, said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
He was responding to former party central executive committee member Teng Chang Khim, who in a thinly-veiled reference to DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng, said the leadership must guarantee that those who have served two terms would not return as chief minister.
“I feel it’s a bit absurd that there is such a suggestion that potentially anyone who has served two terms can come back to become chief minister.
“The Penang state constitution is crystal clear that whoever has served two terms cannot become chief minister again,” Loke (above) said.
He stressed that DAP, which has helmed Penang since 2008, would respect the state constitution.
“So there is no question at all about anyone who has served two terms to come back as chief minister again,” he added.
Teng Chang Khim
Teng’s suggestion in a Malaysiakini podcast came in the wake of Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announcing that he would step down as state DAP chairperson at the party’s upcoming state convention.
His departure also fuelled questions surrounding his successor, with Chinese-language media reporting speculations that potential candidates included Human Resources Minister Steven Sim or Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, who is Guan Eng’s sister.
There were also speculations that Guan Eng, who is the son of party stalwart Lim Kit Siang, could be pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
Malaysiakini has contacted Guan Eng’s office for comment.
Teng’s suggestion in a Malaysiakini podcast came in the wake of Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announcing that he would step down as state DAP chairperson at the party’s upcoming state convention.
His departure also fuelled questions surrounding his successor, with Chinese-language media reporting speculations that potential candidates included Human Resources Minister Steven Sim or Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, who is Guan Eng’s sister.
There were also speculations that Guan Eng, who is the son of party stalwart Lim Kit Siang, could be pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
Malaysiakini has contacted Guan Eng’s office for comment.
Lim Guan Eng
Teng raised the issue of returning chief ministers in response to Loke’s assurance that Chow would serve till the end of his term.
Meanwhile, Kit Siang, when quizzed on the possibility of his daughter following in his son’s footsteps to become Penang chief minister, declined to comment on the matter.
“You ask the relevant people in the team. I am retired from frontline politics,” he said.
Earlier, Loke, Kit Siang, and DAP national deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo were present at an event held to announce 10 recipients of the inaugural Karpal Singh Law Scholarship.
Each of the recipients, selected from 400 applicants, was awarded RM20,000 to continue pursuing their law degrees.
Teng raised the issue of returning chief ministers in response to Loke’s assurance that Chow would serve till the end of his term.
Meanwhile, Kit Siang, when quizzed on the possibility of his daughter following in his son’s footsteps to become Penang chief minister, declined to comment on the matter.
“You ask the relevant people in the team. I am retired from frontline politics,” he said.
Earlier, Loke, Kit Siang, and DAP national deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo were present at an event held to announce 10 recipients of the inaugural Karpal Singh Law Scholarship.
Each of the recipients, selected from 400 applicants, was awarded RM20,000 to continue pursuing their law degrees.
No comments:
Post a Comment