Chow declines nomination for state DAP chairmanship

This means he will not defend the state DAP chairmanship, a post typically held by the Penang chief minister.

(FMT) – Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow will not contest the state party elections on Sept 22, which means he will not defend the chairmanship.

He said he had rejected his nomination to stand in the elections despite being informed in a letter from DAP’s headquarters on Aug 27 that he had been nominated.

“After due consideration, I have decided not to contest in the polls. Since I’m not contesting, you know what this means,” he told reporters at Komtar here today.

Asked if this would affect his position as Penang chief minister, Chow said it was ultimately up to the DAP central leadership.

“I was appointed to the position by the party, and that question must be answered by the party. When I was appointed (in August 2023 for a second term), DAP secretary-general (Loke Siew Fook) had commented that there would be no mid-term change.

“But this is up to the party, and maybe the party will comment about this,” he said, coyly.

Chow said that when he was appointed to a second term as chief minister, Loke had asked him to work on a succession plan in Penang.

He said that not defending his Penang DAP chairmanship was the first step in this succession plan.

“The timing is perfect because the new Penang DAP chairman will have more than three years to lead and prepare the party to face the next general election.

“I trust that the delegates will elect a strong state committee to continue the party’s political mission in the state,” he said.

The Batu Kawan MP also pointed out that he would still be a DAP vice-chairman despite bowing out of the state party leadership.