The Star:
Penang’s storm in a Chinese teacup
THE Chinese say that one’s ears tend to itch when people are gossiping about you.
As such, Gobind Singh Deo’s ears must have itched like crazy because he was a heated topic of conversation among Penangites amid rumours that he could be the next chief minister of Penang.
The reaction to the notion of a non-Chinese taking charge of DAP’s crown jewel was as if a volcano had erupted in Penang.
The Penang Chinese were clearly not enchanted by the idea. There was an outcry among Chinese community leaders and groups, who called for Chow Kon Yeow (pic, above) to stay on as chief minister.
kt comments:That's sheer kerbau, and of a racist kind. Back in 1958 when Penang as part of then-Malaya became independent, there was an election for the Mayor of George Town. The residents (95% of whom were Chinese) voted for an Indian, D.S Ramanathan (a Sri Lanka Tamil). So don't tok-kok about Penangites being not desirous of a non-Chinese CM. Please lah, we were and are Penangites, not racists but rather, very handsome & gorgeous looking people! 😉😊😁
The Chinese vernacular media who see themselves as a pillar of Chinese culture and rights went full throttle on the issue.
The Karpal Singh name is special but the Chinese were not ready to give away the only top state post in the country still held by a Chinese, not even to the son of Karpal.
The DAP leadership had initially resisted confirming the top post but the talk about Gobind spread like wildfire.
The chatter out there was that DAP had taken Chinese support for granted and even that the party was betraying the Chinese.
Party secretary-general Anthony Loke knew he had to douse the flames. He moved quickly and late on Thursday (July 13) night, he announced that the party leadership had decided that Chow stays on chief minister.
Events surrounding the chief minister issue were so fast-changing that Guang Ming Daily, a popular Chinese daily in Penang, had to change its front page three times before finally going to print that night.
It is unclear how the talk actually began. It did not make sense that Gobind, who is Damansara MP and Selangor DAP chairman, would contest in Penang.
How is the Selangor DAP chieftain supposed to do battle with one foot in Selangor and the other in Penang?
Moreover, a well-placed Selangor insider confided to The Star that Gobind is planning to contest the Bukit Gasing state seat in Selangor, following which he will likely be made a state exco member.
Gobind had turned down a seat in the Madani cabinet to focus on his law practice but it looks like he is ready to play a key role in the Selangor government.
Gobind’s ears may have itched but Chow must be feeling the love from the outpouring of support from Penang groups.
His detractors claimed that he has under-performed but his low-key management style has found acceptance across the board.
“It looks like internal politics, which is not good before an election. It’s okay if the incumbent has a scandal but Chow is not controversial. He does his job without fanfare and you don’t hear bad words about him,” said a retired medical doctor from Penang.
Moreover, the names of those who could potentially replace Chow have not impressed the people of Penang.
One of them is Steven Sim Chee Keong, who is Bukit Mertajam MP and Deputy Finance Minister. The other is former state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Wong Hong Wai.
Speculation about them resulted in the controversial Hew Kuan Yau, better known as Superman, posting a tongue-in-cheek comment on social media: “Today Bersatu says it’s Ah Keong (Sim), next day Gerakan says it’s Ah Singh (Gobind) but they don’t know that the mastermind is Ah Xien”.
Ah Xien means a powerful god in Chinese and it is anyone’s guess who Hew was referring to as the mastermind.
What happened is reminiscent of the Gerakan power struggle in the run-up to the 2008 general election.
A tussle to fill the chief minister post ensued after Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon vacated the seat to contest a parliament seat. The crisis was one of the reasons for Barisan Nasional’s defeat in Penang.
DAP’s storm in a teacup, however, is not exactly over.
Penang’s two-term limit for the chief ministership is great for democracy and a deterrent against abuse of power.
But, said former DAP politician-turned-political columnist Jeff Ooi, the second term can also result in tensions between the outgoing leader and the person seen as the next leader.
Loke spoke of a “major renewal” in the DAP state exco line-up that will include younger, capable and dynamic faces.
Chow’s clout will depend whether he has a say on the new faces coming in.
It is no secret that his predecessor Lim Guan Eng is a powerful figure behind the scenes and would want to push up young and ambitious politicians who are loyal to him.
Chow and Lim are not exactly bosom buddies and there will be rivalry over candidates.
Chow also needs to have a say over the state exco line-up if he does not want to be an island surrounded by people who are not aligned to him.
There is also been speculation about Lim’s potential role in the state government.
Lim has held his Air Putih state seat for three terms and also served in Melaka where he began his political career. Will the Bagan MP and former finance minister lend his experience to the state exco or will he be retired?
“Chow’s position is safe but he needs to be careful that he does not become a lame duck chief minister,” said Ooi.
Succession and grooming someone new to lead in Penang will be an important mission if Pakatan wins a fourth term in power.
The Penang list of candidates will be avidly scrutinised because among them will be the future chief minister.
The Karpal Singh name is special but the Chinese were not ready to give away the only top state post in the country still held by a Chinese, not even to the son of Karpal.
The DAP leadership had initially resisted confirming the top post but the talk about Gobind spread like wildfire.
The chatter out there was that DAP had taken Chinese support for granted and even that the party was betraying the Chinese.
Party secretary-general Anthony Loke knew he had to douse the flames. He moved quickly and late on Thursday (July 13) night, he announced that the party leadership had decided that Chow stays on chief minister.
Events surrounding the chief minister issue were so fast-changing that Guang Ming Daily, a popular Chinese daily in Penang, had to change its front page three times before finally going to print that night.
It is unclear how the talk actually began. It did not make sense that Gobind, who is Damansara MP and Selangor DAP chairman, would contest in Penang.
How is the Selangor DAP chieftain supposed to do battle with one foot in Selangor and the other in Penang?
Moreover, a well-placed Selangor insider confided to The Star that Gobind is planning to contest the Bukit Gasing state seat in Selangor, following which he will likely be made a state exco member.
Gobind had turned down a seat in the Madani cabinet to focus on his law practice but it looks like he is ready to play a key role in the Selangor government.
Gobind’s ears may have itched but Chow must be feeling the love from the outpouring of support from Penang groups.
His detractors claimed that he has under-performed but his low-key management style has found acceptance across the board.
“It looks like internal politics, which is not good before an election. It’s okay if the incumbent has a scandal but Chow is not controversial. He does his job without fanfare and you don’t hear bad words about him,” said a retired medical doctor from Penang.
Moreover, the names of those who could potentially replace Chow have not impressed the people of Penang.
One of them is Steven Sim Chee Keong, who is Bukit Mertajam MP and Deputy Finance Minister. The other is former state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Wong Hong Wai.
Speculation about them resulted in the controversial Hew Kuan Yau, better known as Superman, posting a tongue-in-cheek comment on social media: “Today Bersatu says it’s Ah Keong (Sim), next day Gerakan says it’s Ah Singh (Gobind) but they don’t know that the mastermind is Ah Xien”.
Ah Xien means a powerful god in Chinese and it is anyone’s guess who Hew was referring to as the mastermind.
What happened is reminiscent of the Gerakan power struggle in the run-up to the 2008 general election.
A tussle to fill the chief minister post ensued after Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon vacated the seat to contest a parliament seat. The crisis was one of the reasons for Barisan Nasional’s defeat in Penang.
DAP’s storm in a teacup, however, is not exactly over.
Penang’s two-term limit for the chief ministership is great for democracy and a deterrent against abuse of power.
But, said former DAP politician-turned-political columnist Jeff Ooi, the second term can also result in tensions between the outgoing leader and the person seen as the next leader.
Loke spoke of a “major renewal” in the DAP state exco line-up that will include younger, capable and dynamic faces.
Chow’s clout will depend whether he has a say on the new faces coming in.
It is no secret that his predecessor Lim Guan Eng is a powerful figure behind the scenes and would want to push up young and ambitious politicians who are loyal to him.
Chow and Lim are not exactly bosom buddies and there will be rivalry over candidates.
Chow also needs to have a say over the state exco line-up if he does not want to be an island surrounded by people who are not aligned to him.
There is also been speculation about Lim’s potential role in the state government.
Lim has held his Air Putih state seat for three terms and also served in Melaka where he began his political career. Will the Bagan MP and former finance minister lend his experience to the state exco or will he be retired?
“Chow’s position is safe but he needs to be careful that he does not become a lame duck chief minister,” said Ooi.
Succession and grooming someone new to lead in Penang will be an important mission if Pakatan wins a fourth term in power.
The Penang list of candidates will be avidly scrutinised because among them will be the future chief minister.
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