The DAP national adviser said he mentioned Chow previously only because the chief minister holds the legal authority under the Local Government Act 1976 to appoint or reject councillors.
However, Lim said Ng Yee Siang told him that he harboured no dissatisfaction towards Chow, as he understood that the decision to drop his name was made by Sim on behalf of the Penang DAP state committee.
“The chief minister merely received and ‘rubber-stamped’ the decision made by Sim to remove Ng’s name,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Lim also claimed that the Bagan DAP parliamentary liaison committee had unanimously supported Ng’s reappointment, and that this position was conveyed in writing to Sim.
“I did not write to the chief minister because this matter does not concern him,” the Bagan MP said.
“Unfortunately, he (Sim) rejected the views of the grassroots members from all DAP branches and elected representatives within the Bagan parliamentary constituency who wanted to renominate Ng as a councillor.
“Therefore, it is inaccurate, unfounded and misleading to suggest that the chief minister was determined to remove Ng.”
FMT has reached out to Sim for comment.
Yesterday, Chow said he was “shocked” that Lim had accused him of removing Ng from the list of councillors, describing the allegation as inaccurate and baseless.
Chow said Penang DAP did not propose Ng for the post, which was why he was not appointed for a third term. Ng served two consecutive terms as a councillor from 2021 to 2025.
Lim and Chow have had strained ties for years, with Lim previously criticising Chow over issues such as the creation of a special financial zone in Penang and the sale of Penang Development Corporation land.
Councillor nominations followed party protocol
Penang DAP publicity secretary Joshua Woo said in a statement that the party’s process of nominating local councillors was transparent and adhered to long-established procedures.
He said nominations were open to all, and that the candidates were interviewed by a five-member panel on Dec 12, 2025.
“The proposed list was subsequently tabled at the Penang DAP state committee meeting on Dec 13, 2025 for final approval.
“No request for a vote was made during the meeting, and the list was therefore unanimously adopted,” he said, adding that it was then submitted to the state government.