THE Penang government will not dissolve the state assembly if the general election is called during the monsoon season, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.

He said the risks to voters are too high for an election to be held during that period.

“If (the general election) is not held during the monsoon season, it is a different story,” he told reporters today.

“But if it is during the monsoon season, we will not dissolve (the state assembly) because the risks are too high.”

He said considerations such as flooding have to be taken into account if the government moves to hold the polls during the rainy season.

“What happens if it floods on the night before polling day or on the day itself?” he asked.

Chow said logistical issues for those travelling to polling centres must also be considered.

He said voters cannot go to the polling station if it is flooded, and even polling.

“Can we call ourselves a democratic country when people can’t vote on polling day because some people are so determined to hold elections during the monsoon season?

“How would Malaysian voters be able to exercise their right to vote when faced with a life-or-death situation when their homes are flooded? Even polling centres will not be spared,” he said.

This could also lead to low voter turnout, he said.

“Even with a low turnout, the small numbers that do manage to cast their ballots will vote against Barisan Nasional (BN) for calling elections during the monsoon season,” he said.

However, Chow said if parliament is dissolved closer to the end of term in July next year, the state will follow suit.

“If the dissolution is nearer to full term, obviously, we will follow. But now, Barisan Nasional is so determined to have an early general election even during the monsoon season,” he said.

On Sunday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that despite the possibility of floods, BN is willing to face floods to campaign in the general election.

He said should the polls be held at the end of the year, the BN Youth machinery will be ready to provide assistance in flood-hit areas.

However, Zahid was widely panned by opposition leaders who said he was detached from the reality of the havoc floods would wreak on communities.

“Umno seems to have forgotten about the misery experienced by the people over the past decade due to the flood disaster,” PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said.

“The two major flood incidents in Taman Sri Muda (2021) and Baling (this year) did not impact the Umno leadership, let alone convince them that the welfare of the people should be a priority.”

Arau Umno division chief Shahidan Kassim suggested that a committee be formed to study the appropriate time for the polls to be held.

He said in view of the anticipated floods at the end of the year, it might have an impact on voter turnout if elections are held.

“There is a need for an in-depth study on whether we should have the elections this year or next year.

“If parliament is dissolved and floods hit some states, certainly we need a caretaker (government) to tackle flood-related issues. As such, there are pros and cons in having the elections this year and next year,” he told the media at an event in Johor yesterday.

His party colleague and Ketereh lawmaker, Annuar Musa, said Zahid’s statement on holding elections during the monsoon season had been misinterpreted.

The communications and multimedia minister said the Umno chief’s statement was actually referring to the preparedness of the BN election machinery to face the polls in any given situation.

“I would like to think that Zahid’s remarks gave emphasis on BN’s preparedness if GE15 (the 15th general election) is called during the flooding season, and it doesn’t necessarily mean to have GE15 called despite the floods.

“I am just trying to clear things up. It was not about holding GE15 during the floods. The statement was misinterpreted as it was not issued officially in writing,” he told reporters yesterday. – September 20, 2022.