Penang Chief Minister bows out of party poll for DAP state chairman, after holding post for 25 years

SINGAPORE: After leading Democratic Action Party’s chapter in its stronghold state of Penang for 25 years, Mr Chow Kon Yeow will be bowing out of his position this month.

The Penang Chief Minister said on Wednesday (Sep 4) that he had decided to not accept a nomination to contest in the party’s state elections on Sep 22 to defend his chairmanship.

But he will remain as Chief Minister of the key state under the ruling Pakatan Harapan’s coalition.

“When I was reappointed as a Chief Minister after the state elections in 2023, the party secretary-general (Anthony Loke) … had then instructed me to work on a succession plan,” Mr Chow was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

“As such, I have decided to take the first step of this succession plan to make way for a new leader to be elected as the new Penang DAP chairman in the coming 2024 state party election,” said Mr Chow, adding that this would give the newly appointed chairman to lead and prepare the party for the next general election.

Malaysia’s next general election must be held by 2027.

Mr Chow – who is also the Member of Parliament for the Batu Kawan federal constituency – said that he will continue to be DAP vice-chairman at the national level despite bowing out from the state party leadership.

Prior to being the Penang state DAP chairman for the past 25 years, Mr Chow served as the state DAP secretary for eight years and as assistant state DAP secretary for two years.

“Above all, I am indebted to the people of Penang for their great support and fighting spirit to journey together with me during my tenure as state chairman and secretary of the Penang DAP,” said Mr Chow.

The party’s secretary-general Anthony Loke said that Mr Chow will continue in his capacity as chief minister until the end of his term.

“This is in accordance with the state’s constitution, which limits the chief minister’s tenure to a maximum of two terms,” Mr Loke was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.

Mr Loke – who is also Malaysia’s Transport Minister – said that he respects Mr Chow’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming party’s state election which was made “in the spirit of leadership renewal”.

Traditionally, the state party chief also holds the state’s chief minister position.