Penang: 'Appoint more Malays as state exco'

Rahmad Isahak says the state government, led by the dominant DAP, must show good faith to the support given to Pakatan by the Malay community

GEORGE TOWN: A political observer here has called on the Pakatan Harapan state government to consider appointing more Malays as state executive councilors since more of them are now supporting Pakatan.

Rahmad Isahak said the state government, led by the dominant DAP, must show good faith to the support given to Pakatan by the Malay community.

Also, he said that the trust factor was an important indicator of support.

"People put the trust in us and we deliver by repaying our gratitude to it," he said here today.

He added the Malay parties active in Penang were no longer just PKR but parties such as Parti Amanah Nasional and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

All have won seats in Penang, Rahmad pointed out.

In the just concluded election, Pakatan won 37 state and 13 parliament seats whereas BN won two state and two parliament seats with PAS winning one state seat.

Penang wil be seeing a new chief minister after DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng being appointed as the finance minister in he federal cabinet.

Lim will be replaced by Penang DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yeow as the state's fifth chief minister.

Chow would be following the footsteps of the late Wong Pow Nee (MCA), the late Dr Lim Chong Eu (Gerakan), Koh Tsu Koon (Gerakan) and Lim (DAP).

It will be a milestone achievement for the Kuala Lumpur– born Chow, who made Penang his home after graduating from Univeristi Sains Malaysia in the 1980s.

He had also worked in a newspaper before becoming the political secretary to the DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

Chow has been anointed as Lim's chosen successor on several occasions previously.

The swearing -in of the Penang Chief Minister is scheduled for Monday before the Yang Di – Pertua Negri Tun Dr Abdul Rahman Abbas.

Rumours meanwhile continue to swirl over who should be the Deputy Chief Minister I, a post traditional allotted to PKR, the second senior Pakatan party in Penang after DAP.

Among the names mooted were Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Halim Hussein, a former State Speaker and Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin.

The other deputy chief minister post is expected to be filled for the third term by Prai assemblyperson Dr P Ramasamy.