Penang PH doesn’t share Guan Eng’s Umno stand, says Chow

Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chow Kon Yeow has brushed off DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng’s renewed call for Umno to be removed from the state government.

Chow, the chief minister, said the state chapter had yet to receive any order on the matter from the central leadership, and urged parties to wait for a decision by the PH presidential council.

“(Lim’s statement) is not the party’s stand. For now, we will hold to what we previously decided,” he said, according to Berita Harian.

Chow said party leaders should not issue statements that could cause confusion, but allow the PH presidential council to meet and discuss the deteriorating ties with Barisan Nasional (BN).

Yesterday, Lim dared Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to challenge Penang PH to expel Umno’s sole representative in the state government.

In a thinly veiled dig at Penang PH, the former chief minister said the BN lynchpin “should not take advantage of the hesitancy and indecision of the Penang PH leadership”.

Lim was responding to Zahid’s remarks at the recent Umno general assembly, including his claim that Umno could do better than Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in governing the country.

The BN chairman also challenged Anwar to remove his coalition from the unity government and take on a vote of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.

Last month, Penang PH decided to maintain its cooperation with BN in the state government despite the latter’s alliance with Perikatan Nasional in the Negeri Sembilan election.