GERAKAN president Dominic Lau confirmed that he will be contesting in the Penang elections. 

Lau said he intends to stand in one of the state seats in Seberang Perai.

“I will announce the seat after the dissolution of the state assembly,” he told reporters after opening the Penang Gerakan annual delegates conference today. 

Lau said for the state polls, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) component party is only contesting in four states namely Penang, Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Kedah. 

“Gerakan will not be fielding candidates in Kelantan and Terengganu because in the 15th general election (GE15), they (PN) were using PAS logo. Secondly after seat negotiations, Bersatu and PAS will play a very important role and they have many incumbents in both states.

“The incumbents will be given priority as PN candidates to contest. Most are from PAS and 95% of the population are Malays and as such both parties will play an active role in the two states (Kelantan and |Terengganu). This is why Gerakan is not taking part there,” he said.

In addition, Lau said the distribution of seats for state polls will be finalised among PN component parties next Wednesday at PN headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Penang has 40 state seats. In the 2018 general election, Pakatan Harapan won 37 seats, including two from Bersatu candidates who were still in the pact at the time, while Barisan Nasional won two seats and PAS one.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow reportedly said the state government plans to dissolve the Penang assembly on June 28 to make way for the state elections. – Bernama, June 18, 2023.