PETALING JAYA: It is the prerogative of the Penang chief minister to call for snap polls in the state.
DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke said while the party's central leadership had not discussed the possibility of snap polls in DAP-led Penang, he stressed that it was the prerogative of Lim Guan Eng as Chief Minister to call for it, with the consent of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
"It (snap polls) is only a rumour from the media. There has been no decision from the DAP central leadership."
Loke however did not discount that snap polls could be held, saying that they were open to the idea.
"But it is an option. If we have any intention to do so, we will bring the matter to our Pakatan Harapan partners," he said after the opposition coalition's presidential council meeting here, today.
Loke however said the issue was not discussed in today's meeting with opposition partners.
Opposition leader and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail also said the matter did not arise.
Asked on her personal views on the snap polls, Dr Wan Azizah replied: "I have none."
An online news portal had reported that state leaders were discussing the possibility of holding snap polls to gauge public sentiment after Lim was charged with corruption.
Sources familiar with the matter had said that although the DAP and the state executive council unanimously voted for Lim to remain in office pending the outcome of his case, the state DAP and its Pakatan allies believed that a statewide election would determine support both for the pact and Lim’s leadership.