ADUN SPEAKS | Separate state polls best decision for situation

ADUN SPEAKS | Pakatan Harapan must be projected as an alternative coalition to the decadent ones such as BN or Perikatan Nasional.

The Harapan presidential council might not have made the optimal decision in going for separate state elections for the three states under its control, namely Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

Anyway, it was the best decision under the present political circumstances that all three states opt for separate elections.

Penang made a powerful case as to why it preferred concurrent elections, both parliamentary and state.

The matter was debated at three levels before its escalation to Harapan’s presidential council.

A day or two was taken to deliberate the matter, taking into account the views of three component parties in Penang, the DAP central executive committee and members of the Harapan presidential council.

No dissolution

The decision was finally made yesterday: the three Harapan states would not dissolve their respective state assemblies but go for separate state elections next year.

This decision was consistent with the earlier stand of Harapan that the three states would not dissolve their state assemblies at the time of the dissolution of the Parliament.

It was felt that Harapan should focus on the flood situation arising from the monsoon period to mitigate the worst effects on the people.

Harapan would not be as heartless and uncaring as Umno or BN in calling for an early election merely as an escape route for those charged with corruption.

By doing this, Harapan adopted a higher moral stand in comparison to the BN coalition.

The decision to have separate state elections was not a mere strategy of defiance but a principled stand to focus on alleviating the hardship of the people if they are affected by the flood.

Tagging along with the dissolution would have meant Harapan going back on its earlier stand.

Such a stand might not have endeared the Harapan coalition to its supporters and people in general.

Penang DAP might have taken a practical decision by going for concurrent elections.

Such an election might have been the best opportunity to take on BN.

Penang DAP was of the opinion that concurrent elections presented a better opportunity to strike at BN at its weakest point.

It was not that Penang DAP was wrong. It was in a better position to assess its winning chances.

This is why it had to make an impassioned plea for taking the option of concurrent elections.

Winning the election in Penang was one thing, but the very basis of winning must be established.

Unity and solidarity

Whether Harapan opted for concurrent or separate elections, the cooperation of the coalition as a whole was important.

Maybe the situation in Negeri Sembilan and Selangor was different to the one in Penang.

Perhaps Penang had more reasons to go for concurrent elections rather than the other two states.

In the final analysis, whatever is said and done, despite different political circumstances, the three component parties must stick as one coalition.

This is what is called the unity and solidarity of Harapan.

The Harapan coalition is not merely about winning the election in the three states, it must project itself as the alternative coalition to BN and PN.

The togetherness of PKR, DAP and Amanah is something essential.

It is important for this unity that differences should be sunk to the extent of having separate state elections in solidarity.

In the final analysis, what matters is whether the three parties can project Harapan as an alternative coalition to decadent ones like the BN or PN.

P RAMASAMY is the Perai assemblyperson and Penang deputy chief minister II.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.