Penang may not dissolve its state assembly even if the Election Commission calls for a general election, widely speculated to be held early next year.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Penang Pakatan Rakyat coalition of DAP, PAS and PKR will decide when the state assembly should be dissolved for elections, not the BN.

He said the decision would be made at a Pakatan convention before the election is called, with the people deciding whether or not they want a state-level election.

"This will not be the penang pakatan convention 211110 guan eng speechlast Pakatan convention before the (anticipated) general election. We will organise another for the coalition to decide whether it should dissolve the state assembly and go for the election... it is not for BN to decide," Lim said at Pakatan's first convention in Penang last night.

"This may be our first convention but it is very important; this is where we want to see how we can strengthen the coalition to fight the BN in the coming election."

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said Pakatan would not only strive to maintain Kedah, Kelantan, Penang and Selangor, which it conquered in the 2008 elction, but that it would also vie for those still held by the BN.

"We have to work hard; if we work hard, the rakyat will support us," he added.

Lim and other Pakatan leaders launched the coalition's election machinery, unfurling on stage a large yellow banner depicting the three party logos to the theme of TV serial Hawaii Five-0.

Party representatives Law Choo Kiang (PKR), Lim Hock Seng (DAP) and Salleh Man (PAS) signed on the banner under their respective party logos to pledge commitment to take the coalition to victory in the coming election.

'We are ready'

State PKR chairperson Mansor Othman and state DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yeow were absent due to a prior engagement.

"By launching thispenang pakatan convention 211110 audience machinery, we are saying that we are ready for the coming election," Lim said, cheered on by the 700-odd participants.

It is learnt that Penang will meet its counterparts in the other Pakatan states to decide together to on the holding of state-level elections.

Each state can decide when to hold its election as its legislative assembly is usually dissolved by the respective heads of state, on the advice of the head of government.

However, as most of the states come under the control of BN, elections have been held simultaneously with the parliamentary election.

The next general election is not due until 2013.