3 PH-ruled states won't call for polls this year

The top leaders of Pakatan Harapan (PH) today said that Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang will only dissolve their state assemblies next year due to concerns over the occurrence of floods as recently predicted by the Malaysian Meterological Depaermtent.

"The Presidential Council also notes that the state governments of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang have raised their level of preparedness to face the floods in each state, in order to prioritise the welfare of of the people, life and property," said a statement by leaders of the coalition's four parties today.

The decision comes amid strong protest from PH as well as Perikatan Nasional against pressure from Umno leaders for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve Parliament this year and pave the way for the 15th general election (GE15), which must be called by the middle of next year.

Critics of such a move have cited concerns that holding an election this year would hamper efforts to manage the floods expected during the monsoon season. 

The PH decision also follows warnings by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) of heavy rain and thunderstorms through to November as the country moves through the monsoon transition phase following the end of the southwest monsoon period. 

"During the monsoon transition phase, the country will experience weak winds from all directions, conducive to thunderstorms that usually bring heavy rain and strong winds within a short period of time.

"Such incidents occur mainly in the evening and early night in most areas of states on the west coast, the interior of the peninsula, west Sabah and central Sarawak," MetMalaysia said, adding that these weather conditions could cause flash floods and damage to unsound structures.