GEORGE TOWN, July 18 — Barisan Nasional (BN) members will be given positions in the Penang state administration after the state election, said Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chow Kon Yeow.
The Penang DAP chairman said he cannot stop any party in the PH-BN unity coalition from asking for a position in the state executive council line-up after the state polls on August 12.
“We will consider the requests from all parties,” he said in an interview with Malay Mail.
He said the state governments in Pahang, Perak and Melaka, despite not entering the 15th general election (GE15) as part of the unity government, had conceded state exco positions to non-BN parties.
“So, we will deal with this after the elections and if Umno retains its seats, we will consider them,” he said.
He said if Umno failed to win any seats in the state polls, they would definitely be considered for city councillor positions.
“Even BN components, MCA and MIC, will be considered for other positions, even the MPKK will have to come into play,” he said.
He does not discount the possibilities of offering them positions in state government-linked corporations although there are only two main GLCs in Penang: Penang Water Supply Corporation and Penang Development Corporation.
As for the collaboration with Umno and other BN components for the upcoming state polls, Chow said Penang PH had met with Umno in its first meeting, and then with BN components in a second meeting regarding the polls.
He hoped all BN components and its grassroots will continue to support PH in the upcoming state election to secure Penang under the PH-BN administration.
“We hope their election machinery will support us in the campaigning to ensure PH-BN can win,” he said.
The Penang state legislative assembly was dissolved on June 28 to pave the way for the state election.
The Election Commission has fixed July 29 for nomination date and August 12 for polling for six state elections that will be held concurrently.
