Hold an emergency state assembly sitting to discuss snap poll: Farid

BALIK PULAU: Pulau Betong assemblyman Mohd Farid Saad has questioned the silence of fellow Pakatan Harapan assemblymen on the possible snap poll in the state.
Farid said that the issue revolves not only around DAP members and assemblymen but also the entire state and other assemblymen including from Barisan Nasional (BN).
"We can see that DAP is the only party that is engrossed in the idea of the snap poll while PKR is not convinced of the idea. I urge the Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng to hold an emergency state assembly sitting to discuss the matter to see if the majority agrees with the snap poll or not," he said.
Farid also said that if DAP is keen to conduct a snap poll, all of its 19 assemblymen have to resign in order to conduct a fresh election.
In the previous General Election held in 2013, Pakatan Rakyat had won 30 seats in the state consisting of 19 from DAP, 10 from PKR and one from PAS.
However, PAS has broken its ties with Pakatan Rakyat last year after a feud with Lim who is also the DAP Secretary-General, and shortly after that, Pakatan Harapan consisting of Amanah, a new party established by former PAS members had tied up with DAP and PKR to form Pakatan Harapan.
PAS through its president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had announced that PAS will contest in all seats in Penang if a snap poll is being called.
Last night, PKR had held an emergency meeting in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the matter and after several hours of closed door meeting, its president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said that PKR is yet to be convinced on the idea of the snap poll and needs more time to consider.
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister and former Penang Deputy Chief Minister (I) Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said that Pakatan Harapan is not fit to lead Penang anymore.
"Just after two terms being in power, now they are scrambling all over. If they could not even manage a state properly, how could they govern a country ...," he said.
The idea of a possible snap poll had surfaced after Lim had been slapped with two corruption charges early this month and talks on a possible snap poll with its fellow component parties had been carried out since.
Earlier, Hilmi together with the Information Department had carried out a program called 'Apa Kata Gen Y' to boost the spirit of patriotism among youngsters at Balik Pulau Politeknik which was attended by some 1,000 participants from various education institutions. — Bernama