All 3 Harapan states to reach consensus on simultaneous polls

Pakatan Harapan is to decide on whether to allow its states to reverse course and hold their elections concurrently with the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the coalition’s decision would be based on a consensus by all three states - Negeri Sembilan, Penang, and Selangor.

When asked to clarify whether the coalition’s decision will differ between each state, he said it would not.

“No, that is the principle we are trying to achieve,” he told reporters after Harapan’s presidential council meeting today.

This comes after DAP’s Penang chapter proposed reversing the coalition’s decision to put off state elections until the monsoon season has passed.

Previously, the coalition’s presidential council decided that its states will not dissolve their respective state legislative assemblies until the monsoon season has passed.

Loke said this afternoon’s presidential council meeting would discuss Penang’s proposal.

However, Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim said the council today could not reach a decision.

“We are still tied with the (previous) decision of the presidential council (to not dissolve the state assemblies).

“However, we have asked (the states) to discuss with their party leadership so there is an understanding.

“We (the presidential council) have given the guidelines and the parties and states must be given space to give their views to us in a short span of time,” he said.

Earlier, Harapan’s coalition’s communications director Fahmi Fadzil (above) said Harapan will announce its decision within 48 hours.

“We have discussed the matter and now there are a few details that are being looked into. Hopefully, Harapan leaders, be it the presidential council or at the state level, will make an announcement,” he said.

Loke said the matter will be discussed within DAP tomorrow night.

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