GEORGE TOWN, Jul 13 – Penang State Assembly the possibility to be dissolved early due to the the issue of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was charged with two corruption in Penang High Court last month. However, DAP Organising Secretary Anthony Loke said DAP centre had yet to discuss the matter.
“It is only a possibility and we’ve decided or if there is an intention to make a decision, then we take this agenda to a friend Pakatan Harapan. How do I decide if there is no discussion. The right to dissolve the state government is in the hands of the chief minister with the approval of the Governor of Penang,” he said.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy said, the case is only in the early stages of discussion and has not yet been decided in the meeting of the state DAP. When interviewed by Sin Chew Jit Poh, Ramasamy, who is also Vice Chairman of the Penang DAP said, after Guan Eng was charged in court, some have claimed the charges were politically motivated.
“Therefore, the Penang DAP through a discussion that is not official, raised the possibility of dissolving the state and the state election early. Let the people who determine whether the charges imposed on Guan Eng whether it was politically motivated or not,” said Ramasamy.
A political analyst who is also a Fellow of the Institute of Penang, Wong Chin Huat imagine that Pakatan Harapan most likely to get new mandate when the election is called. According to him, Pakatan Harapan requires a strong mandate to win this election after the prosecution Guan Eng in court.
Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the question of the dissolution of the Penang State Assembly is still too early to decide. He said DAP state is still no decision to be taken and discussed in the meeting of the central committee of the party. He said, now, they have not decided to discuss with the component parties in Pakatan Harapan.
Meanwhile, Penang Umno chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman questioned the DAP state to dissolve Dun because it is a waste of public funds. He said (Issues) Guan Eng who was indicted for corruption offenses is his personal matter and it has nothing to do with the Penang Government.
“DAP should not hold the state election early. Why spend millions in state election simply to measure the response of the people to the party. Guan Eng should relinquish his post pending the latter’s corruption trial or go on leave. The court was willing to give a chance to him to clear his name. Why did he and the Penang Government wants to drag people into this corruption case?” Zainal Abidin said.
Zainal Abidin also questioned whether Guan Eng has lost the confidence of the majority assemblymen in Penang Pakatan Harapan and feel the need to dissolve the state assembly. In the last general election, Pakatan Rakyat comprising DAP, PKR and PAS retained the reins of Government Penang after obtaining 30 seats (DAP-19, 10 and Pas-PKR-1) compared to the BN won 10 seats.
On June 30, High Court Judicial Commissioner Azmi Ariffin set bail for Lim at RM1 million with one surety. Lim however was allowed to keep his passport on the codition he notifies the Attorney General Chamber’s and the High Court two days before leaving the country. Meanwhile, Azmi Ariffin also set bail for Phang at RM200,000 with one surety, and without conditions. The date for next hearing has been set at September 22.
