PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan and PAS are negotiating to hold state elections concurrently next May.

Sin Chew Daily learned that the state governments under Pakatan Harapan and PAS may be dissolving the respective state assemblies to pave way for state elections to be held concurrently.

The six states – Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan under Pakatan Harapan, and Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu under PAS are are due for state elections.

Sin Chew Daily learned that both Pakatan Harapan and PAS hope that the state elections can be held together.

Both PAS and Pakatan Harapan have initiated early discussions in private to dissolve state assemblies around June as suggested by the election commission.

Sources said PAS did not indicate it would want to hold state elections together with Pakatan Harapan, as the menteri besar in states led by PAS hoped to defer the state elections while the party leadership had not decided on the matter.

Holding state elections concurrently may be in favor of PAS as the party is confident it will continue to rule the states.

A separate state election may see the unity government focusing on states led by PAS during state elections.

“Holding state elections concurrently will see the focus being diverted. No one is to have an upper hand in politics,” said the source.

It is learned that PAS is currently relocating voters from PAS- led states to Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

The party is confident it can win the election in Selangor.

Sources said if the state election is held early, PAS will not be able to complete the relocation of voters.

Pakatan Harapan is worried about the relocation exercise carried out by PAS.

Another source said state governments led by Pakatan Harapan are unlikely to wait until the automatic dissolution of state assemblies.

The states are likely to call for state elections after Hari Raya Puasa in mid-May.

Will Pakatan Harapan collaborate with Barisan Nasional in the state elections?

This will depend on whether the unity government is operating smoothly at the federal level.

The source said Pakatan Harapan had not initiated talks with Barisan Nasional.

“Negotiation is always based on the chances of winning the seats and winnable candidates.

“It is believed that Umno will not give up seats that it can win. The same goes for Pakatan Harapan,” said the source.

If the collaboration is based on the unity government formula, Umno is likely to contest in state seats it has won and fill up the seats left by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

As for MCA and MIC, they are likely not to be fielded in Selangor state election.