GEORGE TOWN – Penang DAP wants parties in the unity government to defend their seats in the state election this year.
State DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said today this had also been decided at the DAP central executive committee meeting yesterday.
“(The DAP leadership of) all states participating in the state elections will have to use this principle to begin the negotiations. Penang Umno definitely has two incumbent seats (Permatang Berangan and Sg Dua).
“So I think based on this principle, we will not request for their seats, and likewise, it must be reciprocated,” the chief minister told reporters at the launch of the Ancom Crop Care Penang Scholarship Programme here today.
As for who gets to contest the four state seats currently under Perikatan Nasional (PN) – Seberang Jaya, Sg Acheh, Bertam, and Teluk Bahang – the Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman said that could be open for negotiations.
“The seats not won by PH in the previous election may be open for discussion,” he said.
Penang has a total of 40 state seats and secured 37 of them in the 2018 general election when Bersatu was still part of the coalition.
BN held two seats then while PAS had one – Penaga.
Meanwhile, Chow said there are approximately less than 80 days left before the dissolution of the Penang assembly.
“There may be less than 80 days from now until the dissolution, but if we include the campaign period until the casting of votes, there will be approximately 100 days. These 100 days are very critical and important because all parties and candidates will level up their machinery for the state elections later,” he said.
Chow hoped that all matters related to seat negotiations can be finalised by then and that the selection process of DAP candidates will run smoothly. – Bernama, April 20, 2023
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