Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng denied speculations that his Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin was asked to quit his post.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament today, Lim said his political secretary had contacted Fairus, but Fairus was not aware of such a rumour.

mohammad fairus penang deputy cm deny resign 160708 02 "He denied it and he didn't know where the story came from," said Lim.

"At this point he is still the deputy chief minister... you never know what the future holds, you never know what the future holds for me also," said Lim.

However, when quizzed on how the rumour came about, Lim simply said: "I don't want to speculate".

Fairus, when contacted by Malaysiakini last night, also denied that he was stepping down. State PKR chief Zahrain Mohamed Hashim has also denied the rumours.

Party sources told Malaysiakini that Fairus was currently in Kuala Lumpur to meet top party leaders.

Fairus was said to be accompanied by fellow PKR state representative and exco member Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.

Abdul Malik, who is Batu Maung state rep, took over Fairus' religious affairs portfolio earlier this month.

There is speculation that Abdul Malik would take Fairus place as DCM 1 should the latter step down.

However PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim, when asked if he had met Fairus today, said that the Penang deputy chief minister was on leave.

"I asked him to help out in the by-election campaigns in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau but he said that he was on leave," he told reporters in Parliament.

Much maligned DCM

Speculations have been rife for some time now that Fairus has had a fall out with his party leaders in PKR, culminating in the latest talk that he was asked to step down by party chief Anwar.

Yesterday an online media reported that Fairus could be leaving his post today as part of Anwar's clean- up of the party.

mohammad fairus penang deputy cm deny resign 160708 01 Fairus has been dogged by controversy from the day he was appointed to the second top post in the state.

Two main complaints on Fairus were on his apparent ‘disappearance' from his state constituency Penanti and his lack of interest as the state football association president.

Anwar had openly rebuked Fairus during the Permatang Pauh by-election last August for not visiting Penanti regularly.

And Fairus was forced to step down from his position as the Penang Football Association chief.

More recently, he was also removed from his state party posts as well as the state religious exco.

In recent days he has been linked to alleged corrupt practices.

Lim was also asked by journalists this morning if it was his prerogative to decide on the appointment of a deputy chief minister.

To this Lim said: "It's my prerogative as the chief minister but I will of course consult with Anwar".

Political observers however are saying that it was only a matter of timing for Fairus to submit his resignation. Many believe he would hand in his resignation as the deputy chief minister after the three by-elections on April 7.

Some are also speculating that he would even step down as the state assemblyperson, paving the way for another by-election.