The Penang government is keeping its options open on whether to allow the State Legislative Assembly to complete its full term, with any decision now subject to evolving political developments, particularly if Parliament is dissolved for the 16th General Election (GE16).
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the rapidly changing political landscape requires the state administration to assess all possible scenarios before making any official decision.
“Politics changes every day, so we need to consider all possibilities,” he told reporters at Komtar on Monday.
Chow said the final decision would ultimately rest with both the state and federal leadership.
“Whatever the decision, we leave it to the state and central leadership to determine the best course of action,” he said.
The comments come amid heightened political speculation following Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) strong performance in the Negeri Sembilan state election last Saturday, where the alliance secured a two-thirds majority.
The result in Negeri Sembilan also led to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke resigning from his state Chairman post after 22 years, saying that new generation should take over.
Chow was also responding to remarks by PAS Information Chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who suggested that Pakatan Harapan (PH) should prepare to occupy the opposition benches once Parliament is dissolved for GE16.
The Penang PH chairman said Ahmad Fadhli’s remarks were largely based on the success of the BN-PN electoral cooperation in Negeri Sembilan.
“In Negeri Sembilan, their cooperation enabled them to win the relevant seats,” he said.
“As a result, they naturally see this as a formula that could be applied in other state elections, taking into account the ethnic and demographic composition of those states, where such cooperation may provide an electoral advantage.”
He added that each political coalition was free to determine its own electoral strategy.
Chow, who is also the Padang Kota assemblyman and Batu Kawan MP, said PH’s Penang leadership — comprising the DAP, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara — would convene a meeting to discuss the implications of the BN-PN victory and formulate its response ahead of the next electoral contest.
While reiterating that no decision has been made on the future of the Penang State Legislative Assembly, Chow stressed that the state government would continue monitoring political developments before determining its next course of action.
