COMMENT | Separate state polls in Penang good for Harapan, DAP and rakyat By Wong Chin Huat

Malalaysiakini : COMMENT | As Penang DAP, which helms the state government, tries to persuade the national party leadership to allow Penang to join Perak, Perlis and Pahang (instead of Selangor and the three PAS states) in having simultaneous federal-state elections, allow me to present the case for the six non-BN states to go full term (due June 25 - Aug 1, 2023) instead of rushing for state assembly dissolution.

Penang DAP offers two arguments to join the BN states for early election:

a) based on party interest, ie, it is safer for Pakatan Harapan to retain the Penang state government;

b) based on public interest, ie, that it is wasteful to have a separate state election.

Pros of separate state polls for Penang Harapan, DAP

1. Mid-term election effect

As voters' moods change by weeks if not by months, separate federal and state elections capture different moods of voters at different times. This is why America's opposition party (the one that lost the last presidential election) tends to do well in their mid-term election, because the president's honeymoon period will not last for two years.

Put in Malaysia's context, if BN wins the 15th general election (GE15), by the time the six Harapan and PAS states go for their own election, BN may have worn out the voters' support and they are likely to do worse. By this logic, Harapan will be disadvantaged in a later state election only if Harapan wins GE15. Is DAP so confident of Harapan winning GE15?

Infinite : Completely agreed! Don't fear the garbage. Rakyat are sick of reading convict on the news daily with BS, court cases being continuosly delayed to save the skins of the court cluster & our hard earned tax moneys being abused. Hold state elections after full terms. Don't waver.

Man on the Silver Mountain : It is a matter of decision being made. That’s all. Stick by it and defend the decision. The flood is but just an excuse. Parliament dissolved, and so there will be election.

You guys decided not to have the state having it simultaneously with the federal. Stick to it. It is too late to make an about turn now at the risk of being seen as wishy-washy and fickle minded.

Karnak : There. I was waiting for this. And I agree wholeheartedly. This will ultimately reinforce the idea that state elections are far more important than federal elections (simply because the BN regime has completely destroyed any value in federal institutions - allegedly). Better for a groundswell of state support in a few election cycles to change the way Malaysians think of federal elections.

GenYF : Don't dissolve. Stick to good works and the votes are always yours.

PNPH : Ok. Reasonable explanation. Good Mr Wong Chin Huat. Hope CM Chow sees your rational and adopt no dissolution of State Assembly.

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