Chow’s ‘independence’ claim a jab at Guan Eng’s faction, says analyst

FMT:

 

Chow’s ‘independence’

claim a jab at Guan Eng’s

faction, says analyst

Predeep Nambiar and Nicholas Chung

-18 Feb 2025, 07:30 AM

James Chin says Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow is saying ‘nobody can control him, and that he will do what is best for Penang’.

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Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow’s call for Penang’s former leaders to respect their successors’ independence has been interpreted by analysts as directed at a DAP faction loyal to his predecessor, Lim Guan Eng.

PETALING JAYA: 

Political analysts see Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow’s assertion of his independence in decision-making as a subtle critique of a faction loyal to his predecessor, Lim Guan Eng.

University of Tasmania’s James Chin said Chow’s remark, that the state’s former leaders must respect their successors’ independence, clearly indicated the two-term chief minister’s dissatisfaction with alleged interference by Lim’s supporters.

James Chin.

“As you know, they had a big fight (in the run-up to the Penang DAP election last year) and the compromise was that Steven Sim would be state DAP chairman and (potentially) the next chief minister.

“So Chow is sending a signal that he is his own man, that nobody can control him, and that he will do what is best for Penang,” Chin told FMT.

Oh Ei Sun.

Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said Chow and Lim’s feud, which recently spilled over into the public domain, has been ongoing for several years.

“Chow, in very thinly-veiled terms, basically said that his predecessor (Lim) didn’t quite respect and value his independence.”

Chow took over as chief minister in 2018 from Lim, who had occupied the post in the preceding 10 years. Chow will vacate the post at the end of his current tenure as the Penang constitution limits the holder of the office to two terms only.

Chow made way for a new Penang DAP chairman to be elected last year as part of a succession plan involving the chief minister’s post. Sim, the human resources minister, went on to become Penang DAP chief.

Last month, Chow said certain quarters had equated his independence as chief minister with disobedience, leading to discontent with his leadership.

The Padang Kota assemblyman said former leaders must give their successors the time and space to carry out their vision for Penang, adding that he would refrain from issuing public statements against future state administrations.

FMT has reached out to Lim for his comment on Chow’s remarks.

Over the past two years, Lim has been publicly critical of Chow and his administration over various issues, including the controversial sale of state land to a developer, structural issues affecting the Gurney Bay project, and water cuts.

Oh said Chow must show substantial results beyond mere economic development to ward off “interference” or criticism of his administration.

He said resolving infrastructural issues—such as Penang’s water woes and traffic jams—would help Chow earn more respect from all quarters.

“As it is, I think a lot of Penangites still look up to Lim because of the ‘good old days’ of him being chief minister. He, of course, would ride on that.”

On the other hand, Chin said it was apparent that a group in DAP was trying to muscle Lim out from the party’s top leadership due to concerns that the Lim family’s hold on DAP was hindering the party’s progress.

He said while DAP members hold Lim’s father, Kit Siang, in high esteem, many are more guarded when it comes to Guan Eng due to the political power he wields.