KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Harapan presidential council will decide in a meeting on Wednesday (Oct 12) afternoon on whether or not the Penang state assembly would be dissolved simultaneously with Parliament, said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
Loke said Penang DAP had sent its proposal to the party’s central executive committee (CEC) and the matter was discussed at length during an evening meeting on Tuesday (Oct 11) night.
"We will bring up this matter to the Pakatan presidential council on Wednesday (Oct 12) afternoon and it will be discussed with the Pakatan presidential council.
"The decision will be made after the Pakatan presidential council meeting," said Loke during a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Jalan Yew on Tuesday (Oct 11) night.
“On matters pertaining to Penang DAP’s request to reconsider the decision on dissolving its state assembly simultaneously (with parliament), DAP Penang has sent this proposal and they have requested for this matter to be reconsidered."
Loke said many reasons were given and among the strongest arguments was that many locals in Penang would prefer for its state assembly to be dissolved simultaneously as Parliament.
"Many are saying that they don’t want to come out and vote twice. That is one of the views that was conveyed widely in the local media," said Loke.
Loke also said an election is about the people and not political parties.
"The voice of the people must be considered and Penang has a strong reaction regarding this matter.
"That is why their views must be heard and discussed again," said Loke.
Penang has a total of 40 state seats.
Meanwhile, Loke also said the issue on Negri Sembilan’s potential dissolution of its state assembly would be discussed in the same Pakatan presidential council meeting.
"Every state has different situations... There are views that we must take into account," said Loke.
Earlier Tuesday (Oct 11), Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the state government would stick to its decision to only dissolve its legislative assembly next year.
Amirudin’s remarks came following an audience with the Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Previously, Pakatan said three states under its helm - Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan - would not dissolve its state assemblies.
