KUALA LUMPUR – The Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership has officially directed its election machinery to begin early preparations for the upcoming General Election (PRU), citing the narrowing window of the current governance term.
Penang PH Chairman, Chow Kon Yeow, emphasized that with less than two years remaining in the current mandate, the coalition must prioritize internal consolidation to ensure a robust defense of its administrative record.
Internal Strengthening and Strategic Realignment
Speaking at the PKR Penang Chinese New Year MADANI Open House on Wednesday, Chow outlined that the current phase of preparation will focus on:
- Restructuring election machinery at all levels.
- Refining work strategies and grassroots engagement.
- Strengthening organizational stability within the coalition’s component parties.
“Time passes quickly, and we must begin our groundwork now. Our mission is clear: to maintain our administration at both the state and federal levels,” Chow stated during his address at Wisma PKR in Bayan Baru.
Proactive Planning
Chow, who also serves as the Penang Chief Minister, clarified that the decision to mobilize early was reached during a meeting in early February. He noted that the move was a proactive measure based on the coalition’s timeline rather than a reaction to the current political climate of other parties.
“This year is a crucial period for us to bolster our party’s strength and further improve our administrative performance. We need to demonstrate a convincing track record to the people well before the polls,” he added.
Coordination with Federal Leadership
When questioned on whether the State Legislative Assembly would be dissolved concurrently with Parliament for synchronized state and federal elections, Chow maintained that Penang PH would defer to the national leadership.
“The decision on whether the PRU and State Elections (PRN) will be held simultaneously rests entirely with the central leadership. Penang PH will comply with any directives issued,” he told reporters during a press conference following the event.
The gathering was also attended by PKR Women’s Chief and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, as well as Penang Deputy Chief Minister I, Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid.
