CARETAKER Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to the former DAP assemblymen who will not be contesting in the upcoming state election, acknowledging their dedicated service during the past five years under his leadership.
Chow recognised that the announcement of new candidates might evoke diverse reactions among party members and voters.
“While it is normal to be accustomed to familiar faces who served their constituencies in the past, it is crucial to maintain party unity and garner support from the people,” Chow emphasised.
He thanked the former assemblymen for their invaluable contributions, especially in the collaborative efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and work towards achieving the Penang2030 vision.
Looking ahead to the election, Chow urged the contesting candidates, including himself (who will be defending the Padang Kota seat), to focus on productive campaigning.
In a media conference at Bandar Cassia today, he encouraged those candidates to utilise the platform to showcase the state’s accomplishments over the past five years, with the ultimate goal of securing victory.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the national leadership for allowing me to contest in the same constituency once again,” Chow stated, expressing his appreciation for the opportunity.
He also expressed his hope for smooth election campaigns and assured that any arising issues would be handled professionally.
Among those dropped from the candidate list were caretaker executive councillors Phee Boon Poh, Chong Eng, Soon Lip Chee, Yeoh Soon Hin, former Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy, and former Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee, who opted out due to medical reasons.