Penang CM : Guan Eng to be sworn in on Tuesday
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 09, 2008
Beh Lih Yi & Chua Sue-Ann

Newly-elected Air Putih state assembly person Lim Guan Eng will be sworn in as the Penang chief minister on Tuesday.
MCPX

Speaking to reporters today, Lim said that the outgoing CM Dr Koh Tsu Koon wanted to be present at the swearing in ceremony but he would not be able to attend if the function was held tomorrow.

Koh will be in Kuala Lumpur as Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi forms the federal government. Abdullah is expected to seek an audience with the King tomorrow for that purpose.

lim guan eng anwar ceramah penang 030308 autograph“We have no problem with that (request),” Lim, who is also the DAP secretary-general told a packed press conference held at a hotel in Georgetown, Penang this afternoon.

Lim also won the Bagan parliamentary seat, leading the way for the opposition parties to complete an almost clean sweep in the state, which jointly took 29 out of 40 state seats.

The DAP, which won in all the 19 state seats in Penang it contested, announced after the election results last night that it will form a coalition state government with PKR.

Investor-friendly policies

Asked on the role of PAS, which won one seat, Lim reiterated that the Islamic-based party is welcomed to help the new government.

To another question on whether he expected winning the power of the state, he said he has not expected the extensive swing but sees politics as an art of possibility.

The CM-designate turned those present - including all except two of the 29 newly elected representatives - into laughter when he was asked on whether he has ‘get used’ to the new role as a state leader.

“I am not sworn in yet. The difference (so far) is that I found more press attending  our press conference now and I am overwhelmed by the camera lights,” he quipped.

He also said it was too premature to discuss whether there will be a major revamp in relation to the state exco portfolios.

At the press conference, Lim pledged that the new state government will pursue an investor-friendly policies to ensure Penang retained its edge as the leading industrial and manufacturing region.

He assured both local and foreign investors that the new state government will be fully cognizant of the importance of their major contribution to the state’s economy, and will put public interest first in the government’s policy and project.

Problem over deputy CM post?

Meanwhile, Penang PKR chief and newly-elected Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim confirmed that the party had set its sights on the deputy chief minister post in the new state government after winning nine of the 29 seats held by the oppositions.

"We are seeking (the) position of deputy chief minister," Zahrain said, when pressed by reporters at the separate press conference later.

Zahrain declined to answer further questions on the topic, saying that both parties were still in the midst of discussions regarding the composition of the new Penang state government.

He added that the main priority was to get Lim to be sworn in as the new CM.

Despite Zahrain’s statement today, DAP sources have said the deputy CM post is likely to be removed although Lim has declined to confirm the speculation.

On another note, Zahrain discounted the possibility that PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will relinquish her Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat for her husband Anwar Ibrahim to contest.

permatang pauh wan azizah nomination 240208 happy“It doesn’t mean that Wan Azizah has to step down for Anwar. There are other means and ways for Anwar to be a representative” he said.

In the election campaign, Wan Azizah has hinted that she may make way for Anwar, who is PKR’s de facto leader, to contest in a by-election should she win the Permatang Pauh seat.

Anwar is only eligible to contest after April 15, when his five-year ban from active politics following his conviction on corruption charges expires.

Wan Azizah has retained the seat with a larger majority of 13,388 votes.

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