Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chow Kon Yeow has distanced the coalition from DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng’s call to remove Umno from the state government, calling it a personal view rather than the party’s official position.
Chow, who is also Penang chief minister, told reporters in Batu Kawan that no official directive had been issued on the matter and urged party leaders to await a decision by the PH Presidential Council, Malay Mail reported.
“It is not the party’s position. For now, there are no party directives. Therefore, at this point, we stand by what has already been decided,” he said when asked whether state PH would review its previous decision to accept cooperation with Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno in the Penang state administration.
Chow’s remarks came after Guan Eng challenged Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to push Penang PH to expel Umno’s sole representative in the state government, according to FMT. Guan Eng accused Umno of taking advantage of what he described as the Penang PH leadership’s hesitation over the party’s role in the state government, while at the same time working with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
The former chief minister pointed out that PH could still retain a two-thirds majority in the Penang Legislative Assembly without Umno’s two elected state representatives. He also urged the state government to reject what he called the “opportunistic, unprincipled, and hypocritical” leadership of Umno and BN.
Chow stressed that all party leaders must abide by decisions made by the top leadership and refrain from issuing statements that could cause confusion. He noted that DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook had called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to convene a PH Presidential Council meeting to discuss the coalition’s position.
“We are bound by what is decided by the top leadership, not for individuals at lower levels to make various statements. We are focusing on the PH Presidential Council. As for the others, we will take note of them,” Chow said.
Guan Eng’s challenge followed Zahid’s remarks at the recent Umno general assembly, where the BN chairman claimed Umno could do better than Anwar in governing the country and challenged the prime minister to remove the party from the unity government and face a vote of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat. Umno had also given the unity government an ultimatum to either hold the 16th General Election or officially remove Umno from the coalition.
Last month, Penang PH decided to maintain its cooperation with BN in the state government despite the latter’s alliance with PN in the Negeri Sembilan election. Umno currently holds representatives in the Penang State Executive Council, two city councils, and state-linked companies.
