Penang PH and BN reach consensus on seat allocation for state elections

The Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaderships appear to have reached an agreement on seat allocations for the upcoming state elections, according to Penang PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow. However, discussions on seat distribution within the unity government will persist at the federal level. Chow, who is also the Penang chief minister, informed reporters that the central level meetings are ongoing, and the decisions for the state will be made at the federal level.

Chow explained that the BN might have the opportunity to contest in additional constituencies while defending their current seats. He said, “Based on the principle of incumbency, they (BN) have two seats but there is still room for them to contest in seats previously won by the other side (PAS and Bersatu). There is this space for distributing seats to BN and therefore, they have the potential to get more than the seats they are holding now.”

Seat allocations for the state elections are anticipated to be announced simultaneously for Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, and Terengganu. Chow revealed last Thursday that the state government intends to dissolve the Penang State Assembly on June 28 to make way for the state elections.

Penang has 40 state seats, with the 14th general election (GE14) seeing PH secure 37 seats, including two by Bersatu (which was then part of PH), while BN won two seats and PAS, one. It has been reported that these six states have reached a consensus to dissolve their legislative assemblies in the last two weeks of June, allowing the state polls to be held simultaneously.