Hock Nan: I was told be prepared to be CM

The imminent announcement naming Gerakan's Teng Chang Yeow as the next Penang chief minister to replace Dr Koh Tsu Koon may trigger a party revolt.

The possibility of this happening was raised today when another top contender for the post, Penang senior state exco member, Dr Teng Hock Nan, said he had been told by the party’s leadership to ‘be prepared’ to be the next CM.

Hock Nan, 62, said he did not know whether there was any truth to front-page reports today that Chang Yeow was expected to be named as Koh’s successor within the next few days.

"As far as I know, I was told by the leadership last week to be prepared and it must be in relation to this issue (chief minister’s post)," the seasoned politician (left) told Malaysiakini when contacted this afternoon.

Hock Nan asked his supporters to be ‘patient and calm’ over the latest developments while waiting for an official announcement. He said his priority now was to work towards a victory for the Barisan Nasional in Saturday’s general election.

According to reports, Hock Nan, at a function this morning in Penang, had asked Koh to give him a definite answer on the CM issue.

Koh, meanwhile, remained tightlipped despite being pressed by reporters for confirmation on who would be the next Penang CM at an event this afternoon.

He only revealed that he had asked the three potential candidates - Hock Nan, Chang Yeow and the party’s rising star Lee Kah Choon - to ‘be prepared’ to take over from him.

Chang Yeow also chose to keep mum on the matter when asked by reporters at another function, saying the question should be directed to Koh.

The speculation of Chang Yeow being named the next chief minister came as a surprise as the two other candidates, Hock Nan and Lee, were leading the race for the state’s top post before this.

Another potential, Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye (right), was dropped after the party decided to retain him at the federal level. He was not given a state seat to contest but will be defending his Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat.

Sources said Koh appears to have finally decided on Chang Yeow, a former political secretary of eight years, with his decision only coming after BN chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi issued an ultimatum for him to make the announcement soon.

At 43, Chang Yeow is the youngest state executive councillor and holds the tourism development and environment portfolio. He is also younger brother of Teng Chang Khim, an opposition leader in Selangor from rival party DAP.

Koh’s decision to remain mum on his successor came under severe attack from opposition parties which argued that Penangites deserved to know, and know now, their next CM.

Decision may split party

Moments after insider predictions leaked last night that Chang Yeow was to be the next CM, DAP leaders latched onto it questioning Koh’s choice at their ceramah.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (left) said the choice of Chang Yeow, if true, was puzzling as Hock Nan had previously been acting chief minister when Koh was overseas.

According to DAP leaders however, Hock Nan would not be welcome as the next chief minister as he had overstayed his welcome in the state.

Koh, who is Gerakan acting president, is not defending his Tanjung Bungah state seat as he wants to move to the federal administration after 18 years of helming the island state. He is contesting the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat.

Abdullah showed his impatience with Koh’s vacillation two days ago telling journalists to ‘go ask Tsu Koon’ when questioned regarding the Penang CM-designate.

It is believed that Koh was holding back on the announcement as he was worried that his decision could split the party in Penang, which could affect Gerakan’s performance in Saturday’s polls.