OF ALL the party leaders in DAP, the vice-chairman of the party and Penang state chairman Chow Kon Yeow should have contested in the forthcoming state DAP polls on Sept 22.
Instead, after procrastinating for a while, he decided not to defend his chairmanship of the DAP Penang that he held for 25 years.
He confirmed that he would not contest the state elections this month but will continue to serve as the Penang Chief Minister (CM) or the remainder of the term. This was also affirmed by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
There have been rumours within the DAP circles that if Chow contests, he might not fare well in the state party polls. These are related to political forces aligned with certain leaders in Penang out to defeat him in the state elections.
It must be remembered that Chow was the Penang DAP Penang for some time. He always emerged with the highest votes in the party’s state elections. No wonder he was always retained as the Penang DAP chairman.
However, in the last one year or so, Chow was unable to defend his nice guy image. He has been facing problems in the administration of the state and its agencies. There are political forces within DAP aligned with one or two leaders who are determined to show him the exit door.
Chow should contest
Again, there are rumours that he might be defeated in the coming state DAP elections. Given the opposition, Chow has been contemplating whether to contest in the state party polls. Earlier, he gave indications that he might not contest if not nominated.
Finally, Chow has cast aside the rumours by saying that he would not be contesting in the state polls.
Given his non-confrontational attitude, he has finally decided not to contest. Whether he decided not to contest because he might lose in the state elections remains in doubt.
The only silver lining in the no contest is that he might remain in his CM post for the remainder of the term. However, despite the assurance given by Loke, things might not be going to be that easy for Chow.
If the anti-Chow faction comes to power after the state polls, things might be difficult for Chow to safeguard his CM’s position.
Chow should not forget that those who are opposed to him want to him to be removed as the Penang CM. This is the reason why he should have contested. A senior politician like Chow should have known better.
Chow of all the persons should know that winning and losing are part and parcel of being in a political party. The prospect of losing should not have prevented him from not contesting in the state elections.
Who knows if he could have been the DAP state chairman once again? What better way of safeguarding his CM’s post. Chow’s non-contest in the party’s state polls will render him more vulnerable to the manoeuvres within the party to remove him.
Chow himself knows that without a party position he would be vulnerable to those wanting to remove him. The assurance from Loke seems ridiculous and without any basis. – Sept 4, 2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Malay Mail
