THE Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) and state Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have jointly agreed to two main agendas in the coming state election in Penang – to ensure both coalitions (PH and BN) win big, and secondly, not to contest against each other in the state election.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, also the Penang PH chairman, was mandated to announce the outcome of the first meeting between the two political coalitions in Penang. The historic meeting was held yesterday evening (May 1) in an undisclosed location.
“The fruitful meeting was attended by 12 leaders – six from each coalition.
“State Umno chairman Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir, deputy chairman Datuk Shaik Hussein Mydin, secretary Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah, treasurer Datuk Jeffri Salim, state BN secretary Datuk Omar Faudzar, and national Umno election department chief Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican represented state BN.
“Penang PH was represented by me as the Penang PH chairman, Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman (representing Nurul Izzah Anwar who is the state PH deputy chairman I), Dr Roslan Ahmad (deputy chairman II), Lim Hui Ying (Penang PH secretary), Goh Choon Aik (Penang PH treasurer), and Penang PH information and communications director Dr Zaidi Zakaria,” Chow told a media conference in Komtar today.
He said that both coalitions have agreed to work together to ensure a huge victory for PH and BN in the coming state election in Penang.
“While we (PH) uphold the principle of coalition parties (incumbent) to contest the same seats won in 2018, both Penang PH and BN agree to ‘look beyond that principle’ when necessary.
“For certain seats, we agree to consider other criteria besides the agreed principle of coalition parties to contest the same seats won in 2018,” he added.
Chow said the first official Penang PH-BN meeting touched on several Malay-majority seats.
“Penang is said to have 15 Malay-majority seats and those seats were discussed in the meeting. We will continue with the internal discussion before announcing the matter when it is ready.”
Responding to a question that only Umno leaders were present in the meeting, Chow reiterated that BN should manage issues concerning its component parties.
“The same applies to PH where we handle matters concerning our component parties.
“Well, Umno leaders are also leaders in BN. And issues concerning Malay-majority seats were discussed in the first meeting,” Chow replied to the question.
He added that seat allocations among component parties were not finalised in the meeting.
“We will continue to have meetings until we have addressed all matters, and we hope to hold them as frequently as possible. It will be an ongoing process.
“Meanwhile, the four state seats (Seberang Jaya, Sungai Acheh, Bertam and Teluk Bahang) which were declared vacant by the Penang Legislative Assembly in March this year are considered ‘incumbent’ seats,” he said.
Chow said the formation of a unity government at the Federal level had opened a new scenario in Malaysian politics, resulting in the historic meeting between the PH and BN coalitions in Penang.
“The over one-hour meeting was aman dan selesa (peaceful and comfortable),” he added.