Penang Umno liaison committee chief Zainal Abidin Osman said the party would be enhancing its preparations for the coming national polls which may be called in 24 months' time.

This is despite the highly speculated snap polls in Penang being put on hold, as announced by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday.

"We will start our operation rooms in every constituency and polling station and enter into election mode to prepare for the 14th general election," said Zainal.

He was referring to the decision by DAP and PKR yesterday to defer state polls as both parties needed more time to discuss.

This is despite DAP central executive committee unanimously agreeing on the matter.

However, PKR said it needed to get more feedback from its leaders on the issue as the party was unconvinved of the DAP's plan.

Zainal has expressed shock that PKR, a close ally of DAP, is not convinced of the latter's plan to hold early polls in Penang.

Zainal said despite the clarifications, PKR continues to question the rationale behind Lim and DAP's call for fresh polls after the chief minister was slapped with two graft charges.

The charges were related to Lim's purchase of a RM2.8 million bungalow in Jalan Pinhorn, purportedly below market value.

The DAP secretary-general has claimed trial to both charges, saying his arrest and charges were an attempt by his opponents to end his political career.

"It is obvious that Lim is desperate and tried to seek the dissolution of the state (legislative) assembly.

"But the corruption charges he faces are his personal problems, and he should not involve the people in his court case," Zainal said in a statement.

"Only the courts can free Lim from corruption charges," he added.

He urged Lim to reconsider his intention as it was "irrational" because snap polls could not free the chief minister from the impending court case, which will be mentioned in September.

Zainal warned that if other states were to follow Penang's plan to hold snap polls, the rakyat will be caught in political campaigns throughout the year.

"This would certainly halt the state's public plan and programmes as the administration will be focused on elections," he said.

"Please use the mandate that has been given to you in the remaining two years on solving the people's problems like drainage and floods," Zainal said.