From The Touchlines

By Sharanjit Singh and Melissa Darlyne Chow
news@nst.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who led the routing of Gerakan and MCA in Penang, will be sworn in as chief minister tomorrow.

Lim, who pledged to head a fair and open government, said he would be sworn in after the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat form the state government with more than a two-thirds majority.

The DAP won all 19 state seats it contested in Penang while PKR won nine and Pas managed to win one, bringing to 29 the total number of seats won by the opposition alliance. There are 40 state and 13 parliamentary seats in Penang. The DAP won seven parliamentary seats and PKR won four.

Lim said he was supposed to be sworn in today but outgoing chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon had asked it to be delayed by a day.

“I have been told that he wants to attend the ceremony. But he has to attend the swearing-in of the prime minister (today).”

He said the state government led by him would pursue investor-friendly policies to ensure that Penang retained its edge as the leading industrial and manufacturing centre in the region.

“We wish to assure investors that we recognise the importance of their major contributions to our state’s economy,” he said, adding that the manufacturing sector made up 42 per cent of the state’s gross domestic product and employed some 200,000 workers.

Lim said the DAP would also hold dialogues and consultations with industry, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, upon taking up the reins of the state government.

He said the newly elected members of parliament for Jelutong, Batu Kawan and Bayan Baru (Ooi Chuan Aun, Dr P. Ramasamy and Datuk Zaharin Mohd Hashim respectively) would be given the task of liaising with the relevant groups.

“We intend to fulfil our promises and will always put public interest first in the implementation or review of any projects or policies,” he said, adding that the new government would also insist on an open public tender system.

Asked whether Pas would be part of the new state government, he said the party was welcome to assist it.

Asked if the opposition had expected to wrest control of the state, he said: “Of course we were hopeful, but dared not raise our expectations too high. We are pleasantly surprised and thankful for this unexpected confidence placed in us by the people of Penang.”

On whether he would abolish the deputy chief minister’s post, Lim said he did not want to comment on the speculation as he wanted to work towards the formation of a new state government.

“The people of Penang expressed their wish for a change of government, and when we won all our contested seats, it was a 100 per cent mandate.

“The will of the people cannot be thwarted and must be respected.

“Koh has conceded defeat and has expressed his willingness to co-operate fully in the transition to a new government.”

On whether Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should remain as prime minister in spite of the huge Barisan Nasional losses nationwide, Lim said: “The point is, whatever our opinions about Pak Lah, he is the leader of BN.

“According to the Election Commission, BN secured a simple majority, which means, based on the law, they have the right to form the next government. Hence, he (Abdullah) has the right to be sworn in as prime minister.”

To a question on whether Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would be contesting in a by-election, state PKR chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohd Hashim said it was a possibility, though they had yet to discuss it.