Malay Chief Minister for Penang?

The notion of having a Malay Chief Minister for Penang is a difficult proposition for DAP to consider, said Dr Ong Kian Ming on his podcast, Are We OK? last night.

“Knowing the thinking of Penang DAP, it won’t be easy to propose a non-Chinese Chief Minister. Penang DAP is not ready for that,” he said.

The subject was broached since Keluar Sekejap co-host Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar had previously suggested that having Steven Sim as DAP secretary general and Zairil Khir Johari as Penang Chief Minister is a potent game changer for the party.

Penang has always been led by a Chinese chief minister even during the BN administration via Gerakan.

Earlier on both Ong and co-host Peter Yong also discussed on the Penang DAP polls.

The Penang DAP polls saw Ramkarpal getting the highest votes followed by Steven Sim Chee Keong getting the second spot. Lim Hui Ying clinched the 12th spot.

Steven became Penang DAP chairman, Ramkarpal the deputy chairman and Lim the secretary general.

“Hui Ying only received about 800 votes. Many branches with held support against the Lim clan who attempted to put people loyal to them,” said Ong, a former MP who is part of Selangor DAP committee

“Wong Hon Wai a state exco touted to be a chief minister. Certain powers wanted to put him as a chief minister by toppling incumbent chief minister, Chow Kon Yeow.

“Wong was not even elected into the top 15 even though he was loyal to the Lims. Delegates did not want to support dynastic politics.

Ong also discussed on Ramkarpal and Jagdeep Singh Deo’s contrasting performance in the polls.

Despite being the deputy chief minister, Jagdeep did not make it into the top 15 with his brother.

Ong attributed Ramkarpal’s highest vote scores to the latter’s decision to step down from a federal post as a deputy minister to avoid accusations of nepotism.

“If delegates supported the state, they would have supported Jagdeep. I suspect most people knew the reason why Jagdeep took two weeks of medical emergency leave.

“The effectiveness of an exco is affected but the DAP leadership did not take action.

Moving forward, the Penang DAP polls sends signals to other states because the central executive committee polls would be held next year, he added.