GEORGE TOWN: There is no and will be no attempt to oust Chow Kon Yeow as Penang Chief Minister in this term, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook said.
He said recently, there were talks to remove Chow.
"I want to stress here that there is no such attempt and there will be no such attempt to oust Chow.
"The decision to retain Chow as the Chief Minister for the second term is the decision of the party's top leadership, particularly the central executive committee, not even me (as the secretary-general) or national chairman Lim Guan Eng alone.
"It is a collective decision… we want Chow to continue leading the state and steering it to greater excellence.
"So, if there are talks of move to remove Chow, it is nonsense. Don't listen to such talks," he said in his speech at the launch of state DAP convention here today.
Loke said he was asked on the natter by newsmen in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya before this but chose to answer it at this convention, as it was more appropriate.
Speaking at a Press conference later, Loke said he did not know where and how such talks came about.
"We don't want such talks to derail the efforts and good job of the state government.
"We (the CEC) have never discussed about this. It has only been three months since the state elections in August and we want Chow to lead the state government to the full term. We will lend him our fullest support," he added.
Loke, however, stressed on the need for a reform in the Penang government as part of a future succession plan.
He said the state constitution was clear that the Penang chief minister's term was only for two terms.
"Chow is aware of this and we need to ensure there is no vacuum when the time comes for transitioning.
"As such, he, together with the national leadership, need to prepare and groom his successor over the next four years.
"Of course we don't have a candidate yet, so, we will use the next three to four years to prepare for that," he said.
Earlier in his speech, Loke also told party members to refrain from the practice of 'backstabbing' and 'frontstabbing' each another.
Meanwhile, Chow in his speech, also thanked the top party leadership for entrusting him to lead the state.
He believed the trust was based on his track record since 1986 as a party member.
"Also, this is based on the fact that I am serious and sincere in my work, don't play politics and is performance-driven," he said.
During an event here in October, Chow had told the audience that there were people within and outside the party who were planning to remove him.
Lim and former state DAP deputy chairman Dr P. Ramasamy had urged Chow to furnish proof of any plot to topple him.
DAP insiders had also told the New Straits Times of a plot to oust Chow.
