Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon is set to move to the federal level after confirming that he prefers to move on.
Breaking his silence on his political future, the Penang Chief Minister and Gerakan acting president said he met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Saturday and informed him about this.
“I sought his views and told him of my strategy. My preference is to move to a federal post for the benefit of the people.
“Pak Lah said he will consider it and make a decision,” he told reporters at the Jelutong Gerakan Chinese New Year open house here yesterday.
Dr Koh also said he had given Abdullah a list of three candidates to take over as chief minister if he was accepted to contest a parliamentary seat.
Refusing to reveal the names, Dr Koh said he had confidence in the three candidates “who are seasoned politicians with good track records”.
He said Abdullah would decide on the matter in a few days.
“If the Prime Minister decides that I should stay in Penang as chief minister, it would be because there are projects to be implemented,” he added.
Among those tipped for the chief minister’s post are Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye, vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan and deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon.
Chia said he fully supported Dr Koh’s decision.
“He is very thorough and I am sure he has given it much thought,” he said, adding that a politician should never lobby for positions.
“A politician must be prepared to take on whatever responsibility that comes his way.
“From my experience, the top decision-makers will never ask if you are ready for something. It is assumed that you are ready no matter how heavy the responsibility because you are a full-time politician.
“It is no different from being in a company. You don’t ask for a promotion, it is given to you,” he added.
Dr Teng said Dr Koh had merely expressed his intention but the final decision had yet to be reached.
“Pak Lah has yet to give Dr Koh a reply,” he said.
Lee said he respected Dr Koh’s decision as the latter was his “boss”.
Dr Koh, who is the Tanjung Bungah assemblyman, is widely tipped to contest the Bukit Bendara parliamentary seat if Abdullah accepts his preference to move.
The seat is now held by Chia, who is likely to contest Dr Koh’s state seat.
Breaking his silence on his political future, the Penang Chief Minister and Gerakan acting president said he met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Saturday and informed him about this.
“I sought his views and told him of my strategy. My preference is to move to a federal post for the benefit of the people.
“Pak Lah said he will consider it and make a decision,” he told reporters at the Jelutong Gerakan Chinese New Year open house here yesterday.
Dr Koh also said he had given Abdullah a list of three candidates to take over as chief minister if he was accepted to contest a parliamentary seat.
Refusing to reveal the names, Dr Koh said he had confidence in the three candidates “who are seasoned politicians with good track records”.
He said Abdullah would decide on the matter in a few days.
“If the Prime Minister decides that I should stay in Penang as chief minister, it would be because there are projects to be implemented,” he added.
Among those tipped for the chief minister’s post are Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye, vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan and deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon.
Chia said he fully supported Dr Koh’s decision.
“He is very thorough and I am sure he has given it much thought,” he said, adding that a politician should never lobby for positions.
“A politician must be prepared to take on whatever responsibility that comes his way.
“From my experience, the top decision-makers will never ask if you are ready for something. It is assumed that you are ready no matter how heavy the responsibility because you are a full-time politician.
“It is no different from being in a company. You don’t ask for a promotion, it is given to you,” he added.
Dr Teng said Dr Koh had merely expressed his intention but the final decision had yet to be reached.
“Pak Lah has yet to give Dr Koh a reply,” he said.
Lee said he respected Dr Koh’s decision as the latter was his “boss”.
Dr Koh, who is the Tanjung Bungah assemblyman, is widely tipped to contest the Bukit Bendara parliamentary seat if Abdullah accepts his preference to move.
The seat is now held by Chia, who is likely to contest Dr Koh’s state seat.
