THE Penang government wants to hold its polls at the same time as the general election, Anthony Loke said.

The DAP secretary-general said that the matter will be discussed at the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council tomorrow.

“The Penang government has asked to relook the decision not to dissolve the state assembly.

“One of the reasons is that Penangites don’t want to go out twice to vote. So, we have to listen to the voices of the people,” he said after a meeting at the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur tonight.

On October 5, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said three PH-led states will not dissolve their assemblies should the general election be held soon.

This, he said, is to allow the state leaders of Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang to focus on flood preparations and helping flood victims.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved parliament yesterday receiving the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

Ismail also urged state governments – except for Sabah, Sarawak, Malacca and Johor – to dissolve their assemblies so state polls can be held concurrently with the general election.

Earlier today, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had hinted that the state government was reconsidering its position on holding state elections at a later date.

“We have reached a decision that needs to be referred to the PH presidential council before making any announcement,” he said in George Town today. 

Chow said the decision would also have to be brought to the DAP central executive committee.

Loke said Negri Sembilan and Selangor are different because they have their own views on holding state elections with the general election.

“So, all will be discussed on Wednesday. The PH presidential council will make an announcement,” he said. 

Loke said all state DAP committee leaders have been given until October 17 to submit their candidate list for the general election. 

“We expect to announce the candidates before Deepavali (October 24) this month.”

He said the selection committee comprises himself, DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, and three other central executive committee members – Gobind Singh Deo, M. Kula Segaran, and Nga Kor Ming. – October 11, 2022.