Rahman Dahlan: PKR will be biggest loser if Penang snap polls held
(MMO) – Barisan Nasional (BN) may make inroads in PKR-held areas in Penang if snap elections are called, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said today.
The BN strategic communications director also said the DAP’s speculated plan on calling an early state election was a “desperate” attempt to prove the Penang chief minister’s innocence in his corruption case.
“We (BN) will make more inroads in PKR-dominated areas in Penang if there is an election. PKR knows this and that’s why they have been very reluctant in agreeing with DAP’s plans,” Abdul Rahman told Malay Mail Online when contacted today.
“This is a desperate attempt to sell the Penang government to save Lim Guan Eng. It seems to be an attempt to legitimise his chief ministership. This is morally wrong,” he said.
Abdul Rahman’s remarks come even as Penang state and federal lawmakers are currently attending a meeting in Komtar, Penang, about the possibility of holding snap elections. PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali is also scheduled to meet Lim on the issue.
Abdul Rahman, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), said holding snap polls ahead of the general election due less than two years away was a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“This is a waste of public resources. What’s the need to call for such an election? GE is not that far away,” Abdul Rahman questioned.
He also flayed the DAP for backing Lim, who is the party secretary-general, and told them to throw their support behind a new leader.
“I suggest to the DAP to start looking for a new chief minister,” the Kota Belud MP said.
PKR has said it does not yet see the necessity to hold an early state election in Penang, ahead of general elections due by 2018.
PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said last night that the party however was not entirely closed to the notion.
The DAP, which has 19 seats, controls almost half of the 40-seat Penang state legislative assembly. PKR has 10 and PAS one, while BN holds 10 seats.
On July 11, sources told Malay Mail Online that Penang leaders were looking to have snap polls in the state to gauge public sentiment after DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was charged with corruption.
Lim was charged with abuse of power and corruption at the Penang High Court last month over the alleged approval of a rezoning application by Magnificent Emblem to convert agricultural land to residential and over his purchase of his RM2.8 million house from businesswoman Phang Li Koon at below market value of RM4.27 million.
