The Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting this afternoon will discuss a proposal to allow Penang to reverse course and hold its state and federal elections concurrently.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the party’s Penang chapter has proposed reversing the coalition’s decision to put off state elections until the monsoon season has passed, following feedback from the people.
“Penang DAP has sent the proposal and asked for a review, so the meeting tonight debated and discussed the issue at length.
“We will bring this matter to the Harapan presidential council meeting tomorrow afternoon for discussion. Any decision will only be made after tomorrow’s presidential council meeting,” Loke (above) told reporters in Kuala Lumpur last night.
He was speaking at a press conference following a DAP central executive committee meeting at the party’s headquarters.
Loke said following Parliament’s dissolution on Monday, many constituents in Penang have voiced their preference for state and federal elections to be held simultaneously for the convenience of not having to come out and vote twice.
“Penang had a strong reaction on this issue, so we have to listen to their views and revisit this matter,” he said.
Asked about Selangor’s decision not to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly to pave way for the state election to be held as well, Loke said the situation in each Harapan-administered state is different. He also reiterated that a decision would only be made tomorrow (that is, today).
Panel to pick DAP polls candidates
On another matter, Loke said the CEC meeting has also decided to give a mandate for a five-person committee to handle matters related to the DAP’s candidates for the forthcoming general election.
It comprises himself as party secretary-general, chairperson Lim Guan Eng, deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo and vice-chairpersons M Kulasegaran and Nga Kor Ming.
The committee will accept nominations for election candidates from state committees until Oct 17, and the party’s candidates’ list is expected to be finalised by Oct 24.
Loke also announced that all state DAP conventions have been postponed until after the 15th general election, except for the Pahang DAP convention scheduled to be held this Sunday.
Previously, the Harapan presidential council decided that the states ruled by the coalition - Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor - would not dissolve their respective legislatures until the monsoon season has passed.
However, Penang DAP’s leadership appeared to have second thoughts. Malaysiakini reported yesterday that it decided during a Monday meeting that state and parliamentary elections ought to be held simultaneously. - Mkini
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