Penang State Assembly will not be dissolved until next year
Bernama
Oktober 15, 2022 
Penang State Assembly will not be dissolved until next year
The Penang State Assembly will not be dissolved until next year as decided by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council meeting today, said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke. - BERNAMA/Filepic
PETALING JAYA: The Penang State Assembly (DUN) will not be dissolved until next year as decided by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council meeting today, said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
He said the stance by PH not to dissolve the state assemblies of Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Penang this year should be maintained to avoid a situation that could create a perception of disunity in PH.
The Penang State Assembly would be dissolved on a more conducive date, which is after the monsoon period, he added.
Loke said it was a difficult decision to make and that he knew it would be disappointing for the Penang DAP leadership who wanted the State Assembly to be dissolved so that the state election could be held simultaneously with the 15th General Election with the dissolution of Parliament last Oct 10.
"I have to disappoint my own (DAP) friends in Penang because I know that if we make a decision to dissolve the Penang State Assembly, but not to dissolve the state assemblies in Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, that will be interpreted as breaking of ranks and can be used as a weapon that PH is not united and cannot make decisions collectively.
"I have to make this decision because the unity and integrity of PH moving into GE (general election) is paramount," Loke told a press conference after the PH presidential council meeting held at the PKR Headquarters here today.
Also present were PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PKR president, and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu.
Loke said the DAP Central Executive Council (CEC) met twice to discuss the Penang DAP's request for the dissolution of the State Assembly on the arguments that the people did not want to vote twice.
"However, the top PH leadership decided to stick to the decision to postpone the dissolution of the state assemblies in Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor. In a pact, even though they don't share the same view, the decision has to be collective," he added.
As of now, only BN-led Pahang and Perlis have dissolved their respective state assemblies, while Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, which are under PAS, maintained their decision not to dissolve their state assemblies.
Meanwhile, Anwar said PH will decide on the use of the logo and seat distribution at its convention in Ipoh this Oct 20.
-- BERNAMA\
Penang accepts decision to not dissolve state assembly - Chow
Bernama
Oktober 15, 2022 19:34 MYT
Penang accepts decision to not dissolve state assembly - Chow
Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Presidential Council wants the state to concentrate on the parliamentary seats for now. - BERNAMA
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang DAP had tried to convince the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Presidential Council of the state's intention to hold its state polls simulteneously with the 15th General Election (GE15) but the council wants the state to concentrate on the parliamentary seats for now.
Penang chief minister, Chow Kon Yeow, said the PH Council did not oppose the idea but they want the state elections of all three PH held states to be convened at the same time.
"Since it was not possible to reach a decision, it was decided that the three states will have to make a collective decision in dissolving the state assemblies. We had an opportunity to discuss the matter thoroughly with the PH leadership.
"Now, we accept the decision (not to dissolve) and focus on the GE15, where there are 13 parliamentary seats up for grabs in Penang. We will focus all our resources and machinery to ensure that PH can win as many seats as possible here," he told reporters after visiting the Pusat Jagaan Suria in Sungai Ara near here today.
The PH presidential council meeting decided today that the Penang State Assembly (DUN) will not be dissolved until next year.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said PH's decision to not dissolve the state assemblies of Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Penang this year, should be maintained to avoid a situation that could create a perception of disunity in PH.
Meanwhile, Chow who is also the Penang DAP chairman hoped the people will accept the decision even though some of them are disappointed. However, they have also tried their best, including appealing the matter to the PH Presidential Council.
"This decision is a democratic process and most importantly, all supporters and party members, focus on what's important in the GE15, that is strengthening the spirit of democracy to achieve victory," he added.
According to Chow, he also conveyed the official decision of PH, not to dissolve the Penang State Assembly, to Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak today.
When asked when the state polls will be held next year, Chow said all three states will have to make a collective decision to hold the state polls at the same time next year.
-- BERNAMA
