KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng today indicated that national and state elections should be held concurrently — at least in Penang where his party helms the government.
The Air Putih assemblyman told news portal Malaysiakini that having simultaneous polls would be more economical, and cited feedback from Penang residents to support his latest opinion.
“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 was quoted as saying.
The DAP, like the other component parties in the Pakatan Harapan coalition, had been in favour of having separate elections for the three states they controlled — Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan.
The PKR-led Selangor government yesterday confirmed it would not dissolve its state legislature to pave way for simultaneous state and federal elections this year.
The similarly-led Negri Sembilan government has yet to make it official but had previously signalled it would emulate Selangor’s decision to maintain its legislature.
Lim also said there was a possibility that Umno — which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition — and PAS — which is a part of the Perikatan Nasional coalition together with Bersatu — would team up again after the 15th general election, based on their 2019 Muafakat Nasional pact.
Asked if he viewed this as a threat to PH’s chances in GE15, Lim said the concurrent polls would hurt them.
“We need to give them a double penalty, not only at the parliamentary level, but the state level as well,” he was quoted as saying.
Lim, who is also incumbent Bagan MP, said the demand for simultaneous polls was only from Penang voters.
He said DAP was not asking Selangor and Negri Sembilan to follow suit.
But he also said the final decision will be announced by PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is also PKR president.
Parliament was dissolved on October 10. A national election must be held within 60 days.
