PENANG: Pakatan Harapan may adopt a “package deal” to discuss seat allocation with Barisan Nasional for the coming six state  elections.

This is because election strategies applied on states led by Pakatan  Harapan – Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan are different from Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah which are under PAS.

Sin Chew Daily learned that through the adoption of a “package deal,” the strategy is used to resolve seats that will not be shared.

For instance, DAP won a total of 19 state seats in the last three elections in Penang and it is unlikely that these seats will be shared  with MCA, even after a unity government comprising of PH and BN is formed at the federal level.

While BN may not be fielded to contest in Penang, PH may offer seats for BN in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan under the deal.

A source said the proper formula would only be finalized after the PH presidential council meeting.

DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng said PH would be meeting before the Chinese New Year to discuss matters related to state elections, including the collaboration with BN, seat allocation and whether the six state elections will be held concurrently.

Penang DAP secretary Lim Hui Ying also said the state PH and BN may form a team in the coming state election since both coalitions are working as unity government at the federal level.

Penang MCA liaison committee chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said he would not be responding to the comments made by Guan Eng and Hui Ying as he had not received instructions from party leadership.

Sin Chew Daily learned that the Penang PH would only be sharing a maximum of four state seats with BN.

The four state seats which were previously contested by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia under PH in the 2018 elections were: Penaga, Bertam, Teluk Bahang and Permatang Berangan.

Penang PH had planned to share the four state seats among Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) in the 15th general election.

However, as PH and BN are now collaborating at the federal level, these four state seats will likely be shared with Umno.

This also means that MCA will not be allocated any seat in Penang.

A source from PKR said the party is unlikely to share the 14 state seats in Penang which it won in the last election with BN.

Based on the electoral results of 15th general election, PKR may lose the following state seats in Penang: Penanti, Sungai Bakap, Sungai Acheh and Pinang Tunggal.

However, PKR has no intention to ”let go” of  hese seats, said the source.

It is learned that the six states are keen to resolve state assemblies to pave way for state elections to be held concurrently in June, after the 25th anniversary of Terengganu sultan’s coronation scheduled to be held in May.

However, another source pointed out that PAS is keen to hold state elections in March, riding on its good performance in the 15th general election last November.