Penang has no issues placing Umno rep in state govt

GEORGETOWN - Penang state government has no issues placing Umno representatives in its administration after the state election.

Its Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the party must win the disputed seats first before being appointed in the state executive council (exco) line-up.

"This is in line with the consensus reached to establish a Unity Government after the 15th General Election (GE15).

"Hence, what the Umno President (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) said is a reflection of the current political scenerio agreed and brought by all parties in the new coalition.

"It is subjected to the results and what happens next is the formation of a new state government," he said here on Friday.

Chow was commenting on Zahid's plea to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairmnan, to include Umno candidates in the three states PH is ruling. The three states are Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang.

Zahid, who is deputy Prime Minister, had raised the matter during his speech at this year's Umno General Assembly where Anwar was present.

This was Anwar's first time attending the assembly after he was sacked from the party in 1998, where he claims were politically motivated attempts to assassinate his character and influence.

Also present were Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is vice-president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu.