Penang DAP pledges support to Chow govt, Sim brushes off 'next CM' talk
Penang DAP will give its full support to the state government led by chief minister Chow Kon Yeow, pledged newly elected state party chief Steven Sim.
Sim also brushed aside questions on speculation that he is now in line to become the "next chief minister."
"We focus on working the ground first...
Penang DAP will give its full support to the state government led by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, pledged newly elected state party chief Steven Sim.
Sim also brushed aside questions on speculation that he is now in line to become the "next chief minister".
"We focus on working the ground first. Okay, make sure we win the next election and establish the government together," he told reporters when met after the state party polls concluded today.
Chow (above, second left) had helmed Penang DAP for over two decades but decided not to contest in this year's state party election amid concerns that he had lost support.
There was speculation that with Chow's exit, there would be an internal move within Penang DAP to replace Chow as chief minister.
However, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke had given assurance that Chow would serve the rest of his term.
Loke also proposed Sim as the new Penang DAP chief and for Lim Hui Ying to be retained as state party secretary, in a move aimed at ensuring stability.
There is no precedent that being Penang DAP chief was a prerequisite to becoming chief minister.
Chow's predecessor, Lim Guan Eng - the first Penang chief minister from DAP - had never contested in state DAP polls and, by extension, was also never the state party chief.
Fight for party’s struggle continues
Earlier during the post-election press conference, Sim said the new Penang DAP committee will strive to continue the struggles championed by past leaders.
"On one hand, we will give full support to the state government led by Chow and also the federal government led by (Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim.
"And on the other hand, we will work hard to reflect the voices and aspirations of Penangites without compromise," he added.
Sim will be heading a delegation to visit all Penang DAP parliament constituency committees to hear the voices of the grassroots and the public, as well as to recruit new members.
Penang DAP deputy chief Ramkarpal Singh and vice-chiefs Zairil Khir Johari and Yeoh Soon Hin will form a taskforce to engage with civil society groups to better ties between the party and Penangites, Sim added.
