Penang snap polls down to state govt not BN: Guan Eng

BATU KAWAN: The decision to hold snap polls in Penang is the prerogative of the state government and not Barisan Nasional (BN) according to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pix).
He said it was the government of the day which had the power to call for early elections in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
Lim said having snap polls in Malaysia was nothing new, noting the BN federal government did so in 1982, 1986 and 1990.
"If the (state) opposition wants to table a motion of no confidence against me, that is their right," he nonetheless said in a press conference today after attending the opening of the Aspen Group sales gallery here.
Lim was asked about the challenge by Pulau Betong assemblyman Farid Saad to convene a Penang Legislative Assembly emergency session to debate on the issue of snap polls.
The Penang government is mulling over the matter after the two-term chief minister was charged for graft and abuse of power in June.
In GEORGE TOWN meanwhile, Backbenchers Club chairman RSN Rayer said the need to convene an emergency session did not arise.
He said such a session was not necessary as the decision laid with the consensus of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties of DAP, PKR and Amanah.
"If no consensus is reached, the proposal to hold state elections will be dropped," the Seri Delima assemblyman told theSun when contacted.
Members of the 40-seat Penang Legislature comprise 19 elected representatives from DAP, 10 from PKR, one from PAS and 10 from BN.