Outgoing Penang chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon today hinted that he would not name his successor before the March 8 general election in order to "cool-off" the intense speculation on the issue.

Speaking to reporters after launching the BN Penang election manifesto at a hotel in Seberang Jaya, he disagreed with the suggestion that by not making the announcement, it would confuse Penang voters on who their next CM would be.

koh on next cm decision 010308"They are just too many stories and fireworks in the media, we would like to cool it off so we can focus on the manifesto, our future and teamwork rather than getting distracted from these issues," he said.

"We get all excited and entangled over the speculation, the little pieces of comments which tend to be blown out of proportion. So I decided, after discussing with the Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) that we would like to cool off on this issue of who is going to be the next CM."

The news came as an anti-climax as there was speculation earlier that Koh might announce his successor at today’s press conference in conjunction with the launch of the manifesto, where Abdullah was also present.

It is believed that Koh is holding back on the announcement as he was worried that his decision could split the party in Penang and this in turn would effect Gerakan’s performance in the polls.

Campaigns jeopardised

Koh, who is also Gerakan acting president, confirmed that the three names he submitted to Abdullah earlier as his potential successors were party vice-president Dr Teng Hock Nan, Tanjung division chief and present favourite Teng Chang Yeow and deputy secretary-general Lee Kah Choon.

He said naming the successor now would be equivalent to putting the cart before the horse.

"Any of the three are qualified (for the post) but firstly, and importantly, they must get elected and we (BN) must get a very comfortable majority," stressed Koh who has helmed the northern state for 18 years.

Quizzed repeatedly, Koh declined to confirm whether his statement today meant that his successor would only be named after the elections. He merely replied: "I would let you know".

He said the current "frenzy" in the media over this issue had jeopardised the election campaign of the three potential successors.

penang bn manifesto 030308 pm"Two of them told me they were tailed by 20, 30 reporters and photographers. When they visited the houses, the voter opens the door, sees so many cameras and slams the door," he said.

Abdullah, who is also BN chairperson and Umno president, was seen nodding in agreement when Koh said at the launch that his team would like to focus on the election campaign first. He however did not stay for the press conference later.

Battle of the Tengs

The battle for the next chief minister post is now shaping up between the two Tengs.

Hock Nan, aged 62 and the most senior among the trio, was expected to be the successor earlier after another leading contender, Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye, was dropped from the race following the party’s decision to retain the latter at the federal level.

Speculation grew intense on Saturday when news leaked by party insiders claimed that Chang Yeow, 44, would be named as the next CM within the next few days.

Political observers believe that Hock Nan might not be chosen because of the age factor.

Asked on this today, Koh said age was not the most important factor in the decision-making process.

He also argued that it was a "different story" altogether to link his decision to keep mum to that of BN Kelantan where Dr Awang Adek had been named as the next chief minister should BN win the state from PAS.

penang bn manifesto 030308 team"They are trying to take over from (PAS) which is in control (of the state). It’s a different story, different circumstances. In Penang, we are talking about continuity. It will be the same BN government and same team," he noted.

All three front-runners for the CM post were at the BN manifesto launch. While Chang Yeow and Lee were seated together, Hock Nan who was seated at the front row walked to them later to have group photographs taken upon the request of the media.

Launching the manifesto earlier, Abdullah said Penang was important since it would be the hub for the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).

The manifesto - which carried the same slogan as the BN national manifesto ‘security, peace and prosperity - focused on the promises of safety, continued economic progress and quality living environment for the people of Penang.

Watch the 3-minute video here.