Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said DAP has decided to abandon plans to hold a snap state election in Penang.

“This is because PKR does not agree with the proposal,” said Lim at a press conference today.

Therefore, the proposed dissolution of the 40-member Penang legislative assembly, which convened on June 28, 2013 following Pakatan Harapan's victory at the 2013 national polls, has been averted.

In 2013, DAP won 19 state seats, PKR 10, PAS one, while Umno won 10 seats.

DAP had decided to hold snap polls to gauge public support for the party and for Lim, who was slapped with two corruption charges on June 30.

However Lim maintained the final decision would depend on a consensus among Pakatan Harapan partners.

"This decision not to hold snap polls was made following quick consultation with party leaders and the Penang state leadership, after PKR deputy president and Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali informed me yesterday, that the PKR leadership did not agree with having early polls," Lim said,

Lim said Azmin, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah, and PKR national elections director Saifudin Nasution, had earlier met Lim and Penang state DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow in Penang on July 20, to listen to reasons for a state general election.

"We had explained that it would be a pro-active strategy not just to let the people decide, whether I should continue as Penang chief minister whilst facing trumped-up corruption allegations against me, but more importantly to pass a verdict on the historic act by the US attorney-general, of seeking a seizure of US1 billion of assets stolen by 1MDB from Malaysians," Lim said.

Final decision

Asked if this was the DAP’s final decision or would the party still pursue the proposal with PKR, Lim said there was no point in dragging on the matter.

He added that during that meeting on July 20, justifiable concerns about the state general elections were raised, in that PKR risked losing more seats than DAP.

He claimed it was proposed that DAP give up one or two of its state seats in Penang to PKR, to make the proposal more acceptable to the PKR leadership.

“However, we stated that this was not feasible,” said the DAP secretary-general.

“Following the disagreement of PKR to a state general election, the DAP will not proceed with proposals for a state general election.

“Even though Parti Amanah Negara had agreed with DAP, we had announced that DAP will not make such a decision unilaterally, but through a consensus of all three parties within Pakatan Harapan.

“DAP upholds the collective consultative process. Despite being unfairly criticised, we will keep our word and display trustworthiness as a basis towards forging a strong coalition in Pakatan.

“Unlike BN who are kleptocrats, DAP leaders are democrats who seek to build and reinforce mutual trust,” Lim stressed.

Lim said Penang Pakatan leaders would now be focused on making Penang a model of good governance and clean leadership, to develop a successful entrepreneurial and welfare state.

"This is in contrast with BN’s crony capitalism and corruption. More efforts on the ground must be made to publicise the good policies of the Penang government that benefit the people, not just cronies.

"Only then will we face the next elections with confidence, and not fear losing seats. We must win not by default, from the failures, abuse of power and corruption by BN, but by the strength of our own hard work," he stressed.