Penang BN will contest snap polls if state assembly is dissolved

Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) will contest in the snap state election if the proposal by the DAP-led state government really materialised.

Its chairman, Teng Chang Yeow, said there had been many reports of the state government calling for an early election, but it would be too premature to comment on it until the State Legislative Assembly was dissolved.

"When the DUN is dissolved, it is open for everybody to contest and BN will surely contest in the snap election," he told reporters before chairing the BN meeting here today.

The meeting was attended by Penang UMNO chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman, deputy chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Penang MCA secretary Tan Chuan Hong, Penang MIC chairman Datuk K.Thangavelu, Penang PPP chairman Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan and Penang Gerakan acting-chairman Oh Tong Keong.

Local media recently reported Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy as saying that DAP had listed two options as the response to the two corruption charges filed against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also the DAP secretary-general.

The first option is to hold a snap election to gauge the people's response to the charges against Lim, and the second is to wait for the next general election due in August 2018.

Lim was charged in the High Court on June 30 on two counts of corruption related to conversion of an agricultural zone to a housing zone as well as the purchase of land and bungalow at below market price.