Penang MCA: Include all coalition members in seat talks

 

Seat allocation talks between Pakatan Harapan and BN should include all component parties of the coalitions, an MCA leader has said.

Penang MCA chairperson Tan Teik Cheng said this following a remark by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow that the state Harapan chapter will meet Umno next week to discuss seat allocations for the upcoming state elections.

“This meeting is not in line with the spirit of the unity government, because all component parties should be included in such important discussions.

“Discussions about seats for the upcoming state election should be between BN and Harapan, inclusive of all component parties from both coalitions and the final decision made by the top leadership of the unity government,” said Tan (above), who is also an MCA vice-president.

He said in a statement today that there have been times when Chow said seat negotiation talks would involve all members of both Harapan and BN coalitions, and there would not be private arrangements between parties.

“How would Chow explain the upcoming meeting with Umno?” Tan asked, urging the chief minister to include all coalition members in the meeting.

“We reiterate that any discussion should include every component party of the unity government, in order to preserve the integrity and trust between parties.”

BN currently has two assemblypersons in the 40-seat Penang state legislature who are both from Umno.

During the Penang state polls in 2018, which were held concurrently with the 14th general election (GE14), MCA contested 10 state seats but did not win any.

Meanwhile, Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail recently said his coalition and BN have agreed that parties which won seats during GE14 will get to contest them again in the upcoming six state polls. - Mkini