PENANG Pakatan Harapan (PH) is scheduled to meet later today to deliberate whether Umno, a partner in the federal national unity government, should remain as part of the state-level government.
The agenda follows the national scene and after the defeat of PH in the Negeri Sembilan and Johor state elections recently, with DAP, a dominant entity in Penang PH, suffering a huge setback.
Penang PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the chief minister, is holding the meeting with PH components of Parti Amanah Nasional and PKR here.
He would hold a media briefing after the meeting ended.
PKR's lead representative is its deputy chairman, Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, the Batu Maung assemblyman and the state deputy chief minister I.
PKR's deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar, who had in the past led the party's charge in Penang, is now on a sabbatical break until further notice.
Amanah's representative is Muhamad Faiz Fadzil, the party's secretary-general.
Insiders said that there would be a discussion about how the ruling national coalition was wiped out in the two southern states despite securing inroads just five years ago, and what steps are needed to maintain their hold in Penang.
One contentious point was Umno under Barisan Nasional (BN)'s willingness to work with Perikatan Nasional (PN), led by PAS, in the two state elections.
Also, on how the employment of identity politics had drowned PH during the campaigning period.
At the national level, BN, through Umno, remains with PH, as well as with Sarawak and Sabah coalitions, and other smaller parties to make up the unity composition, which has led the country since 2022. - August 8, 2026.
