Guan Eng: Concurrent polls needed to deal 'double blow' to Umno-BN

 

DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng said state polls should be held concurrently with the parliamentary election, as demanded by the Penang people.

This was after the Pakatan Harapan presidential council could not reach a consensus on this matter in yesterday’s meeting.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, the former Penang chief minister argued that the demand was made based on sentiments on the ground.

He said that Penang people generally do not want to hold state and federal elections separately as this would cost a lot of resources and time.

“These are the feedback we obtained from the ground. The people told us directly when we asked about their opinion.

“As their elected representative, how could we not listen to them, not speak for them?” he argued.

The incumbent Bagan MP also pointed out there is a possibility that Umno and PAS might join forces to strengthen Muafakat Nasional after the general election.

This would definitely pose a greater threat to Harapan if state elections were held separately, he added.

Therefore, Lim (above) suggested holding state polls concurrently with the upcoming 15th general election (GE15) so that BN and Umno will be “double penalised” by the people.

“We need to give them a double penalty, not only at the parliamentary level, but the state level as well,” he said.

He pointed out that the demand to hold concurrent elections only came from Penang and the party did not ask Selangor and Negeri Sembilan to follow suit as the situation in Penang was different.

However, he admitted that DAP has to reconsider this matter and a final decision will be announced by Harapan chairperson and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Will abide by coalition decision

Separately, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said he personally preferred to stick to Harapan’s current stance on not dissolving their state legislative assemblies until the monsoon season has passed.

He also said he understands the public’s concern that state elections held separately may risk a lower voter turnout rate.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke

However, he stressed that all parties will abide by the final decision of Harapan.

“We are a coalition and we will abide by the final decision collectively. So before we make any decision, we must take into account Harapan’s common interest,” he said during a DAP live broadcast yesterday night.

Yesterday, Harapan’s coalition’s communications director Fahmi Fadzil said Harapan will announce its decision on the matter within 48 hours.

Loke also said the coalition’s decision would be based on a consensus by all three states - Negeri Sembilan, Penang, and Selangor.

Previously, the coalition’s presidential council decided that its states will not dissolve their respective legislative assemblies until the monsoon season has passed. - Mkini