Ramasamy, who served as deputy chief minister under Chow and his predecessor Lim Guan Eng, said leadership was not about having a commanding presence but the ability to integrate diverse views.

He added that Chow’s administration had been relatively free of major scandals, despite critics saying the four-term Padang Kota assemblyman lacked dynamism.

“While Chow’s leadership style contrasts with his predecessors’, he brings a distinct approach rooted in consensus-building rather than one-man rule.

“Having worked closely with Chow during my tenure as his deputy, I can attest to his collaborative style, which, though less aggressive, reflects a modern, progressive leadership,” he said in a statement.

Ramasamy said what Chow lacked was the backing of DAP’s national leadership, claiming that the latter had undermined the authority of the former head of its Penang chapter.

He also said Chow’s decision not to defend his Penang DAP chairmanship was “ill-advised” and left him politically vulnerable.

“A chief minister needs a solid political base, and this absence fed perceptions of him being a lame-duck leader. Despite my differences with the national DAP leadership, I value my working relationship with Chow and respect his contributions.

“Leadership comes in many forms, and Chow’s tenure deserves a fair and measured assessment,” the former three-term Perai assemblyman said.

Chow recently said his independence in carrying out his responsibilities as Penang chief minister had ruffled some feathers as it was perceived as disobedience.

He also said former leaders must respect their successors’ independence in leading Penang, and give them the time and space to carry out their vision.