GE15: Penang, Selangor and Negri not dissolving state assemblies this year, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan-led states Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan will not be holding their state polls concurrently with the 15th General Election (GE15) if it happens soon, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The coalition chairman said it was decided that the states will not be dissolving its state assemblies in view of the year-end floods following discussions between Pakatan’s presidential council and the mentris besar and chief ministers of the three states.

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“Just in case Parliament is dissolved, these three states have decided to concentrate on facing the floods and alleviating the burden of flood victims,” he told reporters at a press conference in Parliament after Pakatan’s presidential council meeting on Wednesday (Oct 5).

Therefore, they won’t have elections until the flood issue is resolved in February or March, he said.

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He said state governments should not be adding to the misery of the people who are already facing problems from the floods.

PAS had said last week that it would not dissolve the state assemblies in three states under its rule which is Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu.

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On Malaysian United Democratic Alliance’s (Muda) bid to join Pakatan, he said he was happy with the initial progress of discussions.

On talks of resistance from PKR's Youth wing over Muda’s bid to join the coalition, Anwar said the Pakatan presidential council’s decision overrides all segments.

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Asked on any potential political alliance after GE15, Anwar said the question was irrelevant as far as Pakatan is concerned, adding that the coalition is confident that it will win.

Pakatan had also presented its shadow budget with 10 key recommendations.