GEORGE TOWN: Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow has decided to stay out of the party elections later this month.
Speaking at a press conference in Komtar here today, the Penang Chief Minister said he received a letter from DAP Malaysia, dated Aug 27, informing him that he had been nominated to contest in the state elections, scheduled to be held on Sept 22.
He said after due consideration, he had decided not to accept the nomination to contest.
"When I was reappointed as a Chief Minister after the state elections in 2023, the party secretary-general, Anthony Loke Siew Fook, had then instructed me to work on a succession plan.
"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.
"The timing is perfect because the new state chairman will have more than three years to lead and prepare the party to face the next general election.
"So I trust that the delegates will elect a strong Penang DAP state committee to continue the party's political mission in Penang," he said.
Chow also recorded his appreciation to the party and members for supporting him and giving him the opportunity to serve as the state DAP chairman for the past 25 years.
Before that, he served as the state DAP secretary for eight years and 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," he added.
Asked if his position as chief minister would be affected by his decision to opt out from the state party elections, Chow said his position was appointed by the party.
"So I think it is best for the party to answer that question.
"However, during my appointment, the party secretary-general did say that I will serve the full term and there will not be any mid-term changes.
"So, it is up to the party," he said.
Asked about possible candidates to succeed him, Chow said the delegates would determine it in the Sept 22 party elections.
"Whoever it is, we hope they will continue with the party's struggle.
"I am not retiring just yet as I am still the national DAP vice-chairman," he noted.
It has been widely speculated prior to this that Chow might not contest in the coming party elections.
It was also widely speculated that state DAP secretary Lim Hui Ying would contest and be made the state chairman.
By tradition, the state party chief will hold the state's chief ministership.
Penang created history by becoming the first state in the country to table and pass a motion setting a two-term limit for the chief ministership back in November 2018.
This is Chow's second term as the chief minister.