Guan Eng denies discord in Pakatan

(The Star) – Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied there is any discord within the Pakatan Rakyat alliance over Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin’s resignation as Deputy Chief Minister 1 and as Penanti assemblyman.

He said he gave PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim more time to pick a replacement for the DCM 1 post out of respect for him.

Lim said critics had labeled him as “tang jia pu, tang quan” (Mandarin for a person who has position but no power).

“They say I was given the right to decide and yet the right was taken away from me.

“But I gave Anwar the right to recommend names and he asked for some time, which I granted.

“If I take that right away from him, then it shows I have no respect for him,” he told reporters during a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly opening here Monday.

Lim stressed that he did not want to make any preemptive announcement on the matter only to have it corrected later.

“The DCM 1’s position is the right of PKR. As a partner in the Pakatan Rakyat government, I allowed them to make recommendations.

“I initially gave Anwar a week to make the recommendations, and when he asked for more time, I merely gave him an extension,” he said.

Lim stressed that Anwar’s input was sought for this particular matter as it involved a position meant for a PKR leader, noting that it did not mean that Anwar was in control of the state government.

He said his decision on the matter was in the best interest of the people, and based on the decisions of the state executive council who were elected by the people of Penang.