Penang PH, BN done with seat talks for state polls

The Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaderships have settled their seat negotiations for the state polls due this year, says Penang PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

Chow however said that talks on seat distribution among parties in the coalition government would continue at the federal level.

"Meetings at the central level are continuing, and decisions for the state will be made at the federal level," the Penang chief minister told reporters after an event in George Town yesterday.

He said apart from defending its seats, BN might get to contest in a few more constituencies.

"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 they have the potential to get more than the seats they are holding now," he added.

Chow said the allocation of seats for the state polls is expected to be announced simultaneously for Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Last Thursday, Chow said that the state government planned to dissolve the Penang state assembly on June 28 to pave the way for the state election.

Penang has 40 state seats. At the 14th general election, PH won 37 seats including two by Bersatu which was then part of the coalition, while BN won two seats and PAS, one.

It was reported that these six states had reached an understanding to dissolve their legislative assemblies in the last two weeks of June to allow the state polls to be held simultaneously.