Penang DAP wavers on 'no dissolution' stand

Penang DAP wavers on 'no dissolution' stand


Penang DAP's leadership has had second thoughts on holding off the dissolution of its legislative assembly.

Several sources told Malaysiakini the leadership had decided last night that state polls should be held concurrently with the parliamentary election.

One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was only one Penang DAP leader who had concerns with the proposal, while others were firmly behind it.

"That leader did not disagree with the decision but was worried about how to convey our change of position to the central leadership and the public," said the source.

Sources said the state party leadership had many reasons for asking the Pakatan Harapan national leadership to overturn its previous decision to hold off election.

Primarily, it has to do with the concern that after the parliamentary election, Umno and PAS are likely to band together, thus posing a real threat to Harapan's hold on Penang.

Sources said the state DAP leadership was also worried that if the election was held well before the monsoon season, they may be faulted for forcing Penangites to show up at the polls twice.

"The public might blame us for the extra spending and resources on the separate election," said the source.

Leadership council meets tomorrow

On Oct 5, the Harapan leadership council ruled that states held by the coalition - Penang, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor - will not dissolve their respective legislatures until after the monsoon season.

This morning, Penang Harapan's leadership convened an emergency meeting but its chairperson Chow Kon Yeow did not divulge their stand.

Instead, the chief minister said each component party will have to inform their respective party headquarters, who will, in turn, convey their position to the national Harapan leadership council.

He said the DAP central committee will discuss the matter tonight and the coalition leadership council was expected to meet tomorrow.

When asked to comment on the DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke stating yesterday that Harapan-held states were sticking to the plan, Chow was non-committal.

"That was the position at the time," he added.