GEORGE TOWN, June 22 — Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow today pooh-poohed rumours that his party’s secretary-general Anthony Loke is planning to run for a local seat in the coming state election.
Chow, who is also Penang chief minister and Padang Kota assemblyman, likened the rumours to him contesting in a Negeri Sembilan seat for the state election.
“If the media was to report that Chow Kon Yeow will contest in Seremban, people who read it will laugh in disbelief,” he told a press conference when asked to comment on rumours about Loke’s candidacy in Penang.
Penang and Negeri Sembilan are among six states to hold elections this year; the other four being Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu.
The rumour was first reported by the New Straits Times, which also cited unnamed DAP insiders rubbishing claims that Loke would replace Chow as the ruling party’s chief minister candidate if it won the state election.
Chow said the media have a duty to assess and decide if rumours were worth publishing.
“The media is duty bound to evaluate whether such rumours have any substance to warrant any attention at all,” he said.
Chow previously announced that the Penang state legislative assembly will dissolve on June 28 with the governor’s consent, to pave the way for state elections that are expected to be held in August.
National news agency Bernama reported that the Kelantan state assembly was dissolved today.
