PENANG Pakatan Harapan (PH) has decided to maintain its cooperation with BN-Umno in the state government.
Despite pressure to leave Umno out of the state government following the Negri Sembilan and Johor elections, Penang PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow chose not to jeopardise the political situation further.
According to him, the agreement includes retaining BN Exco Datuk Rashidi Zinol, who holds the Rural Development, Agrotechnology, Food Security and Entrepreneurship portfolio in the Penang Government administration, in line with the cooperation understanding or 'electoral pact' established during the 2023 state election (PRN).
“Today's meeting (Saturday) agreed to retain the BN Exco in the Penang Government administration as per the cooperation understanding established in the 2023 PRN.
“Our 'electoral pact' in 2023 is with BN only,” he told a press conference after the Penang PH meeting at Wisma DAP on Saturday.
Chow said Penang PH also took note of the stance at the national level that the unity government would remain until the next general election (GE).
“The Umno president and BN chairman stated that the unity government will remain until the next GE. That is the official stance from PH and Umno.
“At the state level, there is no statement that contradicts this stance,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chow said that PH Penang cannot feel too comfortable with the state’s good administration record but needs to strengthen its strategy to face the next GE.
“If success is not communicated effectively, it will not translate into support at the ballot box,” he said.
Chow added that PH Penang still has many strengths, especially in terms of the unity of its component parties as well as a stable and integrity-based administration record.
“Any open division or disagreement will only give the opponents an advantage.
"PH Penang needs to strengthen cooperation between coalition parties in addition to accelerating the reform agenda, including economic reforms, governance, strengthening institutions and the rule of law," he said.
According to Chow, PH also needs to be more aggressive in controlling the narrative by effectively presenting the state government's achievements as well as daring to admit weaknesses, if any.
"Every seat in Penang will be analysed from various angles, including taking lessons from the results of the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
"We also need to control the digital space more effectively to counter racist narratives and hate politics based on facts and close to the reality of the people's lives," he said.
Meanwhile, he said PH is also paying attention to the growing group of young voters, including the Undi18 generation.
He said that every leader, machinery and component party must continue to move as a team with the same goal.
“Our goal is to ensure that Penang remains a strong bastion of PH, a symbol of the people’s confidence and a stronghold that must continue to be strengthened.
“We don’t just want to defend what we still have, but expand the people’s support and build momentum for victory ahead of the next GE,” he added. – August 8, 2026
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