The proposal from DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke to hold simultaneous polls for Pakatan Harapan-governed states if Parliament is dissolved after November is a reasonable one, said PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said Loke made a good point about the short time frame before the end of the state governments’ tenure if Parliament is dissolved after November this year.
“Based on that rationale, it is reasonable to discuss and decide on Loke’s proposal in the Harapan presidential council.
“Harapan states – Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan – had agreed before this not to dissolve the state assemblies if the prime minister proposes to dissolve Parliament early to make way for the 15th general election (GE15)... so that we can focus on helping the rakyat recover from the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and the lives of the rakyat,” Saifuddin said when contacted by Malaysiakini.
Yesterday, Loke said he would propose to the Harapan presidential council to reconsider its previous position for states governed by the coalition to serve its full term.
He had brought up concerns of low voter turnout if the time gap between state polls in Harapan states and the general election is too small.
“If there is no significant time gap, then some voters may think we are wasting resources.
“The turnout may also not be as high as we saw in Johor and Malacca,” he said.
In July last year, the Harapan presidential council announced that states governed by the coalition wouldn't dissolve their state assemblies if a snap general election was called.
At the time, the then Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin-led government was facing instability and snap polls were being floated as a resolution.
Muhyiddin resigned in August of that year, paving the way for Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob to become the new prime minister.
Ismail Sabri is also facing pressure from his party leadership to call for early polls - Mkini
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