Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Lim challenges Zahid over Umno's role in Penang coalition
DAP's Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng has called on the Penang Pakatan Harapan government to expel Umno from the state coalition and defer utility rate increases, directly challenging Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
LSN Malaysia ·
GEORGE TOWN, Sept 14 — Lim Guan Eng has intensified pressure on the Penang state government over its continued alignment with Umno, questioning the rationale for maintaining the party within the Pakatan Harapan coalition at state level.
The DAP assemblyman's remarks represent a fresh challenge to the state administration's unity government arrangement, which has seen Umno participate in the coalition alongside DAP, PKR, and Amanah. Lim's call for Umno's expulsion underscores ongoing tensions within the Penang coalition over policy direction and political positioning.
In addition to his demands regarding Umno's status, Lim pressed the state government to defer planned increases in utility rates, arguing that such hikes would burden residents at a time of economic uncertainty. The dual challenge touches on both the structural composition of the state coalition and its fiscal priorities.
The remarks reflect broader disagreements within Pakatan Harapan over the terms of cooperation with Umno, particularly at state level where the party's participation remains contentious among certain coalition partners. Lim's public stance suggests ongoing internal debates over the sustainability and direction of the current political arrangement in Penang.