Tough decision to disappoint Penang chapter, Loke says

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has opted to bite the bullet to maintain with Pakatan Harapan’s stance against the dissolution of Penang’s state government, although it would mean disappointing his party colleagues from the north.

Although it was a difficult decision to make, Loke (above) said it was a necessary one to show the coalition’s unity.

“As the secretary-general, I have to make a difficult decision, I have to disappoint my own friends in Penang.

“If we decide that the Penang state assembly was to be dissolved but there’s no dissolution for the Selangor and Negeri Sembilan state governments, it would show that there’s no unity in Harapan.

“If there are different decisions made by Harapan states, that would be used as a ‘weapon’ by our enemies, as if we are not united and cannot make collective decisions,” he told a presser after attending a Harapan presidential council meeting at the PKR headquarters today.

Also present at the two-hour-long meeting were Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng, his deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo, Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming, and Harapan communications director Fahmi Fadzil.

He also explained that during both presidential council meets, DAP’s views were heard by the coalition top brass.

“(Before this) DAP has held two CEC (central executive committee) meetings in the past week to discuss the request of DAP leadership, Penang chief minister as well as the representatives to review the decision to dissolve the state assemblies separately.

“We conducted the discussion and consultation process very carefully, that’s why we took a few days,” said the former minister.

Elaborating on the matter, the incumbent Seremban MP said the dissolution of the Penang state legislative assembly will be postponed to next year after the monsoon season, which is expected to hit the nation in November.

“Finally, we made a firm decision to maintain our position that we will postpone (the dissolution).

“It’s not that we won’t dissolve it, but it’s merely a postponement until next year when it’s more conducive to hold elections after the monsoon season has passed,” he said.

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