Harapan to discuss Penang’s simultaneous polls request today By Tan Hong Kai

Malaysiakini : The Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting this afternoon will discuss a proposal to allow Penang to reverse course and hold its state and federal elections concurrently.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the party’s Penang chapter has proposed reversing the coalition’s decision to put off state elections until the monsoon season has passed, following feedback from the people.

“Penang DAP has sent the proposal and asked for a review, so the meeting tonight debated and discussed the issue at length.

“We will bring this matter to the Harapan presidential council meeting tomorrow afternoon for discussion. Any decision will only be made after tomorrow’s presidential council meeting,” Loke (above) told reporters in Kuala Lumpur last night.

He was speaking at a press conference following a DAP central executive committee meeting at the party’s headquarters.

Loke said following Parliament’s dissolution on Monday, many constituents in Penang have voiced their preference for state and federal elections to be held simultaneously for the convenience of not having to come out and vote twice.

“Penang had a strong reaction on this issue, so we have to listen to their views and revisit this matter,” he said.

Asked about Selangor’s decision not to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly to pave way for the state election to be held as well, Loke said the situation in each Harapan-administered state is different. He also reiterated that a decision would only be made tomorrow (that is, today).

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