PKR and the opposition risk losing some of their Malay state seats in Penang if a snap election is called, according to a political analyst.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia professor Faisal Hazis said this would be the outcome if the opposition remained divided, with PAS still outside the fold.

"If the status quo remains, we will see multi-cornered fights in the Malay seats and this will not augur well for PKR and the opposition," Faisal told Malaysiakini.

Speculation is rife that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng would call for a snap election, amid calls for him to step down due to the corruption charges against him.

Yesterday, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the party is not yet convinced on the need for a snap election in Penang.

Faisal said the potential loss of seats is one of the scenarios PKR is mulling.

Add this with public fatigue from elections and the opposition's politicking, there is a chance that the opposition might only win Penang with a smaller majority compared to the 2013 general election, which would not reflect well on Lim's leadership.

PKR currently has 10 seats, and PAS one, whereas DAP has19 seats.

Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya's Awang Azman Awang Pawi disagreed with Faisal. He believes PKR would be on solid footing.

Awang Azman predicted that sympathy support for DAP would spill over to PKR.

PKR, he said, could still bank on votes from PAS supporters, who don't necessarily share the same sentiments as those in Kedah or Kelantan, with some turned off by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's perceived close rapport with Umno.