DAP’s candidate selection committee has unanimously endorsed Chow Kon Yeow as the party’s candidate for Penang chief minister.
“This decision was conveyed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and he has approved this decision as chairperson of Pakatan Harapan,” said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
This announcement has put to rest speculation that Chow would be replaced.
Chow, 64, is a four-term state assemblyperson. He was appointed chief minister in 2018 and has expressed interest in serving a second term.
The committee also decided there will be a “major renewal” in DAP members who take up state cabinet positions if the Pakatan Harapan-BN pact was given the mandate to form the government.
Loke said this renewal process was necessary to transition Penang DAP’s leadership to a group that is “younger and more dynamic” and able to develop Penang further.
The selection committee comprised DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng, deputy chairperson Gobind Singh, vice-chairperson Nga Kor Ming, and vice-chairperson M Kulasegaran.
Loke said the selection committee was still mulling over DAP’s final list of candidates for the upcoming state elections.
“All DAP candidates will be announced a week before nomination day (July 29) at the very latest,” said Loke. – Malaysiakini