State polls: Penang Harapan, BN agree to avoid contesting against each other

 

Penang Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional have come to a consensus to avoid contesting against each other in the upcoming state election.

Penang Harapan chairperson Chow Kon Yeow said negotiations between the two coalitions held yesterday focused solely on the 15 Malay-majority seats and several agreements were achieved.

Penang Harapan chairperson Chow Kon Yeow

"Both parties agreed to avoid any clashing of candidates and all would ensure a huge win in the elections,” he told reporters today.

Chow added that as the negotiations were only focused on Malay-majority seats, BN also agreed to handle internal matters, including other component parties within its coalition.

He also said that although both parties agreed in principle that incumbents would be given the chance to defend their seats, consideration would be given depending on criteria as necessary.

As it was the first time the coalitions have held negotiations, Chow said there were many other matters to discuss before the elections and that everything agreed upon at the discussion would be taken back to the respective parties for scrutiny.

Chow clarified that all the seats that would be contested by Harapan-BN have yet to be finalised and discussions would be continued.

Yesterday’s discussions were attended by Chow, Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, state Harapan deputy chairperson Roslan Ahmad, secretary Lim Hui Ying, treasurer Goh Choon Aik and communications and information director Zaidi Zakaria.

Talks ongoing

On the BN side, it was attended by state Umno chairperson Musa Sheikh Fadzir, deputy chairperson Shaik Hussein Mydin, secretary Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah, treasurer Jeffri Salim, Penang BN secretary Omar Faudzar and national Umno election department chairperson Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

On parties’ requests for seats, Chow said it was too early to reveal such information and that negotiations were still ongoing.

Penang Umno chairperson Musa Sheikh Fadzir

Penang has 40 state seats, 37 of which are held by Harapan, including two seats won by Bersatu candidates when the party was still part of the coalition, while BN holds two seats and PAS one.

Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu chose not to dissolve their state assemblies in tandem with the 15th general election.

Reports indicated that all six state leaderships have decided that the best time to dissolve their state assemblies would be by the last two weeks of June.

- Bernama