GEORGE TOWN – Penang does not plan to dissolve the state legislative assembly if the federal government dissolves Dewan Rakyat to hold a snap general election.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Penang has a strong mandate and it is for a period of five years as provided under the state constitution.
“(The) state will not follow (if snap polls happen). We have a strong mandate and it is for five years. But in politics even one day is too long,” he told The Vibes.
In the 2018 general election, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition won 33 of the 40 state seats, giving it a super-majority in the assembly.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently hinted that an election may be held earlier if the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition wins the Sabah state election.
On Saturday, GRS won the election with a simple majority.
Chow said the need to hold an election during the Covid-19 pandemic depends on the situation.
“There are countries that have held elections during this time. If we hold an election now, interpersonal contact will increase and it will be more risky if it is held on a large scale. However, I think it depends on the need.”
Chow, who is also DAP vice-president, said DAP has performed well in Sabah because it had retained its six traditional seats. The party contested for seven seats.
Last Saturday, the Warisan Plus coalition won 32 seats where Warisan won 23, DAP (six), PKR (two) and Upko took one.
DAP won in Likas, Luyang, Kepayan, Elopura, Tanjung Papat and Sri Tanjong but lost to Bersatu in Bingkor.
Chow’s comments echoed what Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said recently that Selangor would not dissolve its state assembly for a snap election. – The Vibes, September 29, 2020
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