PENANG, 2 April 2009: The Penang state government today proposed two names for senatorship to replace two earlier senators whose terms ended on 30 May last year.
Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, said Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, 75, the DAP national vice-chairperson and Dr Mansor Othman, 59, Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy liaison committee chairperson, were proposed to replace Datuk Omar Faudzar and Datuk Gooi Hoe Hin.
He said the motion on the new candidates would be tabled in the state assembly on 20 April and if passed their names would be forwarded to the federal level for further action.
“Their choice was made on merit and capability as well as their good record in social service and I am confident that they would promote the concept of competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) as practised by the state,” Lim told reporters at his office here.
At the same time, he said, the state government had written to state opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim for other names to be proposed.
Lim said a vote would be taken in the state assembly and the names that received support would be forwarded.
On the replacement for Deputy Chief Minister I, Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, whose resignation takes effect on 8 April, Lim declined to comment and called on all quarters to be patient till then.
He said 8 April fell on a Wednesday when the state executive council meets and any announcement would be made after the meeting.
“My exco deserves to know of the decision first before any announcement is made,” he said.
On the possibility of a by-election for the Penanti state assembly seat held by Mohammad Fairus, Lim said: “Let us talk about the three by-elections first (Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau and Batang Ai)”.
Mohammad Fairus, who is on leave now, was reported to have resigned to further his studies and he would only relinquish his state position but would remain as Penanti state assemblyperson. — Bernama
