The state government should not wait for too long to appoint a Deputy Chief Minister to replace Penanti assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as the delay would cause a pile-up of workloads and duties related to the post, said Penang Gerakan Secretary Ong Thean Lye.

In a statement, Ong said Fairus had tendered his resignation on March 21 for it to be effective from April 8, thus there was plenty of time for the state government to decide on his successor. Fairus was in charge of entrepreneur development and co-operative as well as information and community relations.

“Although the post belongs to a Malay PKR assemblyman as stated by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on Thursday, why take so long in getting a replacement? Lim could have asked his boss, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, to nominate a candidate without delay,” said Ong.

“Is the delay due to Pakatan Rakyat’s obsession to campaign for the three by-elections on April 7 that the coalition ignored the people’s interests in Penang,?” added Ong.

Lim was quoted in the newspapers on Wednesday that he would announce on Thursday the replacement for Fairus. But on Thursday, Lim said although it was his prerogative to appoint the candidate, he would wait for Anwar to name the party’s nominee.