Snap polls in Penang?

KUALA LUMPUR: Talk is rife that the DAP-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration is mulling snap polls for Penang in the wake of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng being charged for graft and abuse of power last month.
Although the mandate for the present term expires only in 2018 as the last General Election (GE) was held in 2013, it is learnt that a snap election is being considered as a show of force by PH to the Barisan Nasional.
It will be a referendum for the people to decide whether PH should continue leading the state and by extension show whether Penang voters are for or against Lim's prosecution, which the DAP contends is politically motivated.
However, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke said today that the party has not held any formal discussions yet with its PH partners PKR and Amanah on whether to hold snap polls to gauge public support for Lim.
"We will not make a unilateral decision on this," the Seremban MP told a press conference at the DAP headquarters today, stressing that PKR and Amanah will need to be consulted and their consensus obtained before any such move is taken.
Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat is of the view that PH will very likely secure a fresh mandate if snap polls are called, giving the "new" state government greater legitimacy to deal with the outcome of Lim's trial.
"A landslide for PH may also convey a message to Putrajaya (that) states held by the federal opposition cannot be toppled by way of selective prosecution," said Wong, who sees nothing wrong if the Penang government wants to hold early elections.
USM School of Social Science political analyst Associate Professor Sivamurugan Pandian feels, however, that snap polls for Penang is not a wise move.
"The outcome of the poll will not affect the outcome of the trial," he said, pointing out that many will question the need for a snap poll now as trials and polls are two different processes.
Sivamurugan also pointed out the state government had also endorsed the leadership of Lim shortly after he was charged.
"If there are issues of integrity, one of the two deputy chief ministers can step up as acting chief minister," he told theSun.
Meanwhile, the state BN takes a dim view of such speculation, with its Pulau Betong assemblyman Farid Saad telling Lim to step down or take leave instead of calling for an election.
Farid said the state government should not involve the Penang electorate, adding that there is no need to spend the time, money and effort for a state poll.
He said the current state administration had earned its mandate in the 13th GE and pointed out the 14th GE was not far off.
"There is just two years left ... we will fight then," said Farid who stressed the BN is prepared to face the people if snap polls were held.
BN's Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah was more circumspect, asking if the PH really wants to take such a risk although the call lies with the state government.
He said a snap election would be a win-all or lose-all proposition, and urged Lim to focus on fighting his court battle instead of dragging the electorate for a vote.