The perceived strain in relations between Chow Kon Yeow and Lim Guan Eng is not expected to significantly affect the reputations of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the Pakatan Harapan coalition, according to an analyst.
Oh Ei Sun from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs suggests that the support for Pakatan Harapan is driven more by fear of the Perikatan Nasional coalition, rather than a strong backing for the current coalition. He also notes that the dispute between the chief minister and his predecessor in Penang is unlikely to impact Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's leadership, drawing parallels to past issues faced by the People's Justice Party (PKR).
The controversy between Chow and Lim emerged after Chow accused there being a plot to topple him, to which Lim responded by asking for proof. The dispute arose amidst a controversy regarding the intended sale of state land to a developer. However, Chow later retracted his comments. James Chin from the University of Tasmania suggests that while the disagreement between the two camps may escalate, it is likely to result in a "gentlemen's agreement" between their supporters to prevent further internal conflicts.
Chin believes that despite the potential for a serious conflict in Penang, it will not lead to the downfall of DAP or Chow's administration. He attributes these clashes between former leaders and their successors to their differing leadership styles, citing examples from Malaysian politics, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad's fault-finding with his successors. Azeem Fazwan Farouk from Universiti Sains Malaysia expects Penang voters to forget about this episode by the time of the next general election, which is due in 2027.
However, he acknowledges the presence of "forces" within the state leadership that may seek a change in leadership or the adoption of different policies. Overall, while the strained relations between Chow Kon Yeow and Lim Guan Eng may tarnish the reputations of DAP and Pakatan Harapan to some extent, it is unlikely to result in a significant loss of support.
Voters' concerns about the Perikatan Nasional coalition seem to be a more decisive factor in their support for Pakatan Harapan. Additionally, analysts believe that the dispute will not have a substantial impact on Anwar Ibrahim's leadership or cause the downfall of DAP or Chow's administration. It is anticipated that the conflict will eventually be resolved through some form of agreement or peace plan among the supporters of both leaders.
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