Parti Amanah Negara has agreed to the proposal for a snap poll in Penang, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, during his speech at the “Future of Penang” briefing at Caring Society last night.

Lim said the only party left to concede to the idea of snap polls in Penang is PKR, which is scheduled to meet tonight to decide on the matter.

“We cannot be short of PKR, we cannot have one less (in Pakatan Harapan), as we are a coalition. And in a coalition, everyone has to be in it together,” Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, said.

Asked to confirm the matter, Amanah president Mohamed Sabu when met later admitted it, saying "we wanted to announce it after the Pakatan council meeting".

Lim wants to seek a fresh mandate from Penangites, saying voters must decide if they still want him as their chief minister.

He cried ‘political persecution’ after being slapped with two corruption charges related to the purchase of his bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn, where he was accused of buying the RM2.8 million property at below its market value.

PKR has asked for more time to deliberate on the matter, saying it was not convinced on DAP’s reason to dissolve Penang’s 40-member state legislative assembly.

Lim then appealed to the PKR top leadership to come to a consensus with DAP on a snap election in Penang despite concerns over its performance in the election.

PKR holds 10 seats, and the party fears it may lose seats that it won marginally in 2013, such as Penanti, Seberang Jaya and Sungai Bakap.

PKR also fears that a fall out between DAP and PAS would affect Malay majority seats, which the party hopes to contest.

'Have confidence in the rakyat'

“I know they are worried about losing seats, but so are we. DAP is also worried, but we must have confidence and faith in the rakyat,” Lim said.

“We have to have faith in Malaysians and Penangites. No matter what race, Chinese, Indians or Malays, all of them hate corruption.

“All of them hate Jho Low, Riza Aziz and the 1MDB scandal,” he added, getting a loud applause from the 600-odd crowd.

Lim was referring to Penang-born businessman Low Taek Jho and Riza, the step-son of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who were named in a civil suit brought by the United States Department of Justice against 1MDB.

In his speech earlier, Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow said the state DAP has agreed unanimously to Lim’s call for a snap election.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said there would be no election if PKR decided to ditch the idea because DAP would not call for early election unilaterally.

Lim said he was confident that Penangites will continue to support a clean government and reject those that are corrupt.

When he asked the crowd if they agreed with him, they shouted “yes!”.

Lim added that the future of Penang lies in a welfare-oriented, clean and dignified government, and when he asked if they can vote for one, the crowd shouted “Can!”

“So tomorrow we will wait for PKR’s decision, we hope all Pakatan parties will come together to decide on the polls.

“We will respect their decision. We appeal to them to be brave to struggle and fight against BN, to save Malaysia and Penang,” Lim said to loud cheers from the audience.