Loke should declare two-term former CMs can't return, says Teng
Published: Sep 6, 2024 6:18 PM
DAP leaders must go further instead of assuring that Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow will serve out his full term, said former party central executive committee member Teng Chang Khim.
In what appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng, he said the leadership must also guarantee that those who have served two terms as chief minister would not return to the position.
Although Penang’s state constitution already provides for this, Teng pointed out that the constitution’s language still leaves room for interpretation.
Therefore, he believes that DAP, especially its secretary-general Anthony Loke, should clarify the party’s stance to dispel any doubts or disputes.
Teng (above) said this during a Malaysiakini Chinese-language podcast yesterday, which was aired on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
On Wednesday morning, Chow ended days of speculation by announcing that he would not contest the Penang party election due in two weeks, thus initiating a succession plan that would give the incoming Penang DAP chairperson more than three years to lead and prepare for the next general election.
Loke’s guarantee ‘redundant’
Following Chow’s announcement, Loke reiterated that Chow would serve as chief minister until the end of his term and that this is in line with the Penang state constitution limiting the chief minister to a maximum of two terms.
However, Teng believes that Loke’s announcement was “redundant” and “unnecessary”, and would not necessarily guarantee Chow will serve out his full term.
“This statement is redundant because the constitution does not stipulate that a chief minister must serve a full 10 years. It merely states that you cannot serve more than two terms of 10 years.
“So, whether Chow continues to serve as chief minister has nothing to do with the constitution, as he must step down after his term ends, but there is no such thing in the constitution that he must serve his full term in office,” Teng said.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke
In contrast, Teng believes it would be more meaningful to guarantee that a former chief minister who has already served two terms in office cannot return to the post.
He bluntly stated that the DAP central leadership “failed to address what needed to be addressed and instead made statements that were unnecessary”.
“The guarantee that should be given, or the party’s stance that should be clarified is that after serving two terms: A person absolutely cannot return, cannot continue, or cannot return to serve again.”
Constitution open to interpretation
Teng explained that there is a notion that the Penang state constitution only stipulates that a chief minister cannot serve two consecutive terms, but as long as there is a gap, even someone who has served two terms as chief minister in the past can still return.
He said if this idea holds, in theory, two people could return to serve as chief minister.
Teng only cited former Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon as an example and left the other unmentioned.
However, to date, Penang has only had five chief ministers, and the first two - Wong Pow Nee and Lim Chong Eu - have passed away. So, excluding Koh and Chow, the only one remaining is Lim.
Teng said according to his understanding of the Penang constitution, anyone who has served two terms as chief minister can never return, even if there is a gap period.
However, he said that since this provision has not been interpreted by the courts, there is room for ambiguity.
In contrast, Teng believes it would be more meaningful to guarantee that a former chief minister who has already served two terms in office cannot return to the post.
He bluntly stated that the DAP central leadership “failed to address what needed to be addressed and instead made statements that were unnecessary”.
“The guarantee that should be given, or the party’s stance that should be clarified is that after serving two terms: A person absolutely cannot return, cannot continue, or cannot return to serve again.”
Constitution open to interpretation
Teng explained that there is a notion that the Penang state constitution only stipulates that a chief minister cannot serve two consecutive terms, but as long as there is a gap, even someone who has served two terms as chief minister in the past can still return.
He said if this idea holds, in theory, two people could return to serve as chief minister.
Teng only cited former Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon as an example and left the other unmentioned.
However, to date, Penang has only had five chief ministers, and the first two - Wong Pow Nee and Lim Chong Eu - have passed away. So, excluding Koh and Chow, the only one remaining is Lim.
Teng said according to his understanding of the Penang constitution, anyone who has served two terms as chief minister can never return, even if there is a gap period.
However, he said that since this provision has not been interpreted by the courts, there is room for ambiguity.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow
“But if the party’s stance is that it is not allowed, then the matter will be settled,” Teng said.
Chow first assumed the role of Penang chief minister in May 2018, succeeding Lim who assumed a role in the federal government as finance minister.
In November of the same year, Chow’s government passed an amendment to Article 7(2)(a) of the Penang constitution in the state assembly, stipulating that the chief minister appointed by the Penang governor must meet two conditions:
‘Significant force’ at work
Teng pointed out that based on the series of events involving Penang DAP, there is a “significant force” attempting to remove Chow from his position as state party chairperson, with the ultimate goal of seizing the chief minister’s post.
Teng believes that after Chow loses his position as Penang DAP chairperson, he will become a “lame duck” chief minister.
“As for whether he will step down early, that will depend on his fate! But I don’t think it will be smooth sailing.”
When asked if the party’s central leadership has given Chow sufficient support, Teng said he could not comment since he is no longer on the central executive committee.
However, he noted that Chow enjoys good public support and that the public feels reassured by his stable leadership style, “not a chief minister who likes to provoke and seek the spotlight.”
Over the past year, DAP assemblypersons have criticised Chow’s government over issues such as the economy and water supply.
“But if the party’s stance is that it is not allowed, then the matter will be settled,” Teng said.
Chow first assumed the role of Penang chief minister in May 2018, succeeding Lim who assumed a role in the federal government as finance minister.
In November of the same year, Chow’s government passed an amendment to Article 7(2)(a) of the Penang constitution in the state assembly, stipulating that the chief minister appointed by the Penang governor must meet two conditions:
- They must have the confidence of the majority of Penang state assembly members;
- They must not have served two terms as chief minister at any time.
‘Significant force’ at work
Teng pointed out that based on the series of events involving Penang DAP, there is a “significant force” attempting to remove Chow from his position as state party chairperson, with the ultimate goal of seizing the chief minister’s post.
Teng believes that after Chow loses his position as Penang DAP chairperson, he will become a “lame duck” chief minister.
“As for whether he will step down early, that will depend on his fate! But I don’t think it will be smooth sailing.”
When asked if the party’s central leadership has given Chow sufficient support, Teng said he could not comment since he is no longer on the central executive committee.
However, he noted that Chow enjoys good public support and that the public feels reassured by his stable leadership style, “not a chief minister who likes to provoke and seek the spotlight.”
Over the past year, DAP assemblypersons have criticised Chow’s government over issues such as the economy and water supply.
DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng
In May this year, several DAP state assemblypersons, led by national chairperson Lim, criticised a water tariff hike in Penang and urged Chow to follow Perak’s example by providing a 20 sen discount on water tariffs for a year.
In August this year, Lim, together with Bagan Jermal assemblyperson Jason Ong Khan Lee and Prai assemblyperson S Sundarajoo, held a press conference criticising Penang’s economic slowdown as “terrible”.
He questioned why Penang, despite being the state with the highest export rate and investment last year, had lower economic development than the national average.
Hungry for power
Teng criticised a small group of DAP elected representatives and leaders for being “too eager for power”, to the point of attacking their own party’s chief minister.
He believes these representatives and leaders are “more opposition than the opposition” and should have been disciplined by the DAP long ago, but the central leadership or the disciplinary committee has not taken action.
Malaysiakini has contacted Lim’s office for a response.
In May this year, several DAP state assemblypersons, led by national chairperson Lim, criticised a water tariff hike in Penang and urged Chow to follow Perak’s example by providing a 20 sen discount on water tariffs for a year.
In August this year, Lim, together with Bagan Jermal assemblyperson Jason Ong Khan Lee and Prai assemblyperson S Sundarajoo, held a press conference criticising Penang’s economic slowdown as “terrible”.
He questioned why Penang, despite being the state with the highest export rate and investment last year, had lower economic development than the national average.
Hungry for power
Teng criticised a small group of DAP elected representatives and leaders for being “too eager for power”, to the point of attacking their own party’s chief minister.
He believes these representatives and leaders are “more opposition than the opposition” and should have been disciplined by the DAP long ago, but the central leadership or the disciplinary committee has not taken action.
Malaysiakini has contacted Lim’s office for a response.
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kt comments:
Teng obviously has forgotten that the 10th (China's penultimate monarch) Chinese Emperor during the Qing Dynasty, the Guangxu Emperor, was in effect a powerless ruler because his reign was largely dominated (and usurped) by his maternal aunt, the Empress Dowager Cixi.
Thus from that sad example, one doesn't need to be actually the 'Boss' to rule - likewise, "someone" can govern-administer a State from "behind the curtain" a la Empress Dowager Cixi, wakakaka.
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Empress Dowager Cixi |
Powerful figures whon rule from behind the curtain are often even more powerful than any dejure leader.
ReplyDeleteThis is because their power is unaccountable and operate unseen.