Lim (centre) together with Pakatan Harapan team during the press conference at the Tun Abdul Razak Complex. — Bernama photo
GEORGE TOWN: State DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow was announced as the new Penang Chief Minister to replace Lim Guan Eng who is now Malaysia’s new Finance Minister.
Chow’s appointment was announced by Guan Eng at a press conference at the Tun Abdul Razak Complex (KOMTAR) here yesterday.
Guan Eng said Chow, who is also Padang Kota state assemblyman, was expected to take his oath of office at the residence of Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas in Sri Mutiara here tomorrow.
In the recent 14th General Election, Pakatan Harapan (PH), comprising DAP, PKR, PPBM and Amanah, won 11 parliamentary and 37 state seats in Penang.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) only won two parliamentary and two state seats while PAS secured one state seat.
Meanwhile, Chow, who is also Member of Parliament for Tanjong, thanked all voters and people in the state for giving the PH the mandate to continue ruling Penang for the third term.
“Thank you to the voters and the people who have given PH stronger mandate to continue to rule the state. Congratulations to all PH representatives who were elected, and to the three who were not elected, we still appreciate the sacrifices they made as PH candidates,” he said.
Chow also expressed his gratitude to Penang’s PH for giving him the trust as a new chief minister and pledged to fulfil all that was promised in the PH manifesto to the people.
In the GE14 Chow won the Padang Kota state seat with a 7,808-vote majority, while in contest for Tanjong parliamentary seat, he garnered 34, 663 votes defeating BN candidate, Ng Siew Lai who only got 5,064 votes.
Earlier, Guan Eng, who had previously served as Penang chief minister for 10 years, said that he would always miss the state.
“This will be the last time I speak here. I leave Penang with heavy heart, but I have to go, with a new job and the trust given to me. I think in Penang, the efficient, trustworthy and transparent (CAT) administration implemented for the past 10 years has brought along many changes.
“I will miss Penang because Penang had given me the chance to perform better than the Barisan Nasional (BN),” he said.
He also believed the new state leadership would continue carrying out its responsibilities well and would fulfill the 68 promises offered in the PH manifesto. — Bernama