'June still the best time to hold state elections’, Penang CM reiterates
GEORGETOWN - The Penang government maintains its view that the best time to hold state elections is between May and July.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that as stated earlier, Pakatan Harapan (PH) state leaders who met last week agreed that June would be the best time to hold the elections due to the short period to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
"We have said it repeatedly.
"We will stick to what was said before, whether it is May, June or July (to hold the state elections)," he said on Monday.
Chow said this when asked to comment on Pas’ statement that the party would not make a joint decision with PH for the dissolution of state assemblies in the three states it led – Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Pas President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said if PH-led states such as Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan wanted to dissolve the state assemblies this June, that would be up to them.
Chow, who is also the Penang PH Chairman added that if Pas chose to hold the state elections separately, then the coalition also had no choice.
"It would be best if all six states could hold it (state elections) simultaneously. If they are held separately, it will involve a lot of cost and time," he added.
Previously, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said that the state assembly was expected to be dissolved in May to make way for the state elections.
Aminuddin, also PKR Vice President, said it was based on informal discussions with the Menteri Besar and Chief Ministers in the six states before attending the recent Council of Rulers.
Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu were the six states involved in state elections.
Last month, the Election Commission (EC) stated that the six states that have yet to hold elections should consider doing so simultaneously to help the EC better coordinate the deployment of manpower in all those states with an estimated total cost of RM450 million.
