THE allocation of state seats in Pakatan Harapan-controlled Penang for the 14th general election will be discussed and determined by the coalition’s central leadership, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim, who is also PH deputy president and DAP secretary-general, said Penang PH has already been discussing seat allocations, but talks will now be left to the top leaders of the respective parties.

“The state seats are also important to help PH win the three parliamentary seats now held by Barisan Nasional – Kepala Batas, Tasek Gelugor and Balik Pulau.

“To make sure it goes smoothly, we are taking it up to the national level,” he said in his speech at the inaugural Penang PH convention at SP Arena in Seberang Jaya last night.

The leaders who will handle the talks are Lim himself or Chow Kon Yeow for DAP, Muhyiddin Yassin or Mukhriz Mahathir for Bersatu, Mohamad Sabu for Amanah, and Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for PKR.

Lim’s announcement came in the midst of rising tension between PH partners PKR, Amanah and Bersatu due to seat negotiations in Selangor.

PKR and Amanah have been trading barbs and accusations over seat negotiations for the state amid confusion over whether a special committee was needed to resolve the talks.

PH Selangor is to resolve seat talks by February 7, an extended deadline after it failed to meet the earlier set January 31 date.

Last night, Lim said winning the BN-held federal seats would only be possible if PH’s parties worked together.

“If we fight alone, it will be hard. But together, we will have chance and hope… We can even take the toughest seat, Kepala Batas,” he said.

Kepala Batas is a BN stronghold currently held by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

The seat was previously held by Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s successor, former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The latter is still a well-respected figure in the constituency.

The allocation of Penang’s 40 state seats among the four PH component parties – Bersatu, PKR, DAP and Amanah – was not announced last night at the convention.

When DAP’s Chow, who chairs the Penang PH seats negotiation committee, ended his speech at the event, he said he would make the announcement “when the list was ready”.

The Malaysian Insight was made to understand that the seat discussion was in its final stages, with “one or two seats” remaining.

Currently PH holds 30 state seats, with DAP controlling 19 seats, PKR 10 and PAS one.

The remaining 10 are all held by BN’s Umno. They are the ones up for grabs among PKR, Amanah and Bersatu.

PH leaders at the convention last night all touched on the allocation of seats issue, with many stressing on the importance of unity among the component parties.

Dr Mahathir, who is the coalition’s prime minister candidate, gave a lengthy speech centred on unity, and how crucial it was for all parties to forget their unhappiness over seats they did not get and work together to support PH’s candidates in the election, no matter which parties they were from.

Penang Amanah chief Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said when the number of partners increased, there would naturally be more seats to divide.

“I urge all parties to remember the old agenda. We are not fighting for a new struggle. We have been at it for years.

“We have to open our hearts and be magnanimous to make certain sacrifices.

“If we can win the 10 Malay seats in Penang, it will be a win for all Malays nationwide. It will show the people what we are fighting for, and that Umno can have an early retirement.” – February 5, 2018.