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SINGAPORE: Coalition parties under the Barisan Nasional will meet after polling day on 8 March, to pick the next chief minister of Penang.
This is according to the outgoing Chief Minister, Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
He also reiterated a point made by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi that UMNO has never interfered in deciding who will be the state's chief minister.
Dr Koh added that he hopes to announce the name of his successor, within a few days after the polls.
He also disagreed with his predecessor, Dr Lim Keng Yaik, who had suggested a "winner-takes-all policy".
This would have meant that of the three current names, the candidate chosen to be chief minister would be the one with the highest votes.
But Dr Koh said becoming the chief minister is not just about garnering the highest votes.
Sources said Dr Koh prefers 62-year-old Dr Teng Hock Nan as the next chief minister but Prime Minister Abdullah had reportedly suggested someone younger.
The latest to throw its support behind Dr Teng is the Chinese Town Hall.
Such acceptance by Penang's Chinese community is another key factor in deciding who would be the next chief minister. -CNA/vm
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