This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 20, 2018

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will defend his Air Putih state seat which he has held for two terms, Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said.

For the Bukit Bendera parliamentary constituency, Lim’s political secretary Wong Hon Wai will replace the incumbent Zairil Khir Johari, who has held the seat for two terms.

Zairil will contest the Tanjung Bungah state seat.

No announcement was made about whether Wong, who is the incumbent for the Air Itam state seat, will defend it.

Penang Island City Councillor Chris Lee Chun Kit, 36, has been fielded for the Pulau Tikus state seat, held by Yap Soo Huey who has secured a scholarship for a masters in urban transport and planning degree in the US.

Zairil, 36, replaces former assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu, who has joined PSM.

Teh was Tanjung Bungah assemblyman for two terms and is passionate about the environment, an issue that resonated with residents in the constituency including the Tanjung Bungah Residents Association.

His comments against the Penang government’s infrastructure and reclamation projects, land swap deals and the call to shorten the chief minister’s position to two terms had not gone down well with the party.

He resigned from DAP early this month after party resources for his constituency were cut.

When questioned, Zairil said he hoped that Teh’s party supporters and resident groups in Tanjung Bungah would put their differences behind them and work as a team.

“I am prepared to engage with residents [on environment] and happy to discuss [issues] with them. They are residents and have a right to voice their opinion,” he said.