Penang PKR has submitted its list of candidates for the coming 13th general election to the party’s central leadership, said a top state leader today.

State PKR vice-chairperson Abdul Halim Hussain said that the list is now up to the central leadership to approve or amend, and state leaders would have to brace for any changes.

Abdul Halim Hussain penang state SpeakerAbdul Halim (right), who is state legislative assembly speaker, added that once the list is finalised, state leaders would abide by the decision of the party’s  central leadership.

He stressed that Penang PKR was ready for the election, which is speculated to be as early as this year or in the first quarter of next year, although it is not due until 2013.

“We are ready as far as party candidates and machineries are concerned,” he told reporters when met at the state assembly today.

“It is up to our federal leaders to decide, we will comply with the decision,” added the state Balik Pulau PKR division chief.At the state assembly lobby, Abdul Halim announced that he would be officially opening a black-and-white photography exhibition by 31 photographers on Penang’s heritage and landscape, which will be held at the First Avenue shopping mall on Nov 12.

Winning formula

In 2008, Pakatan Rakyat’s “winning” formula was 19 seats for DAP, 16 for PKR and five for PAS. DAP contested seven, PKR four and PAS two parliamentary seats.

During that election, dubbed the ‘political tsunami’, Pakatan won 29 out of 40 state seats and 11 out of 13 federal seats.

DAP led Pakatan to victory, winning all of its state seats, while PKR won nine and PAS one.

On the Barisan Nasional side, Gerakan and MCA suffered a major setback by losing all their seats, while Umno won 11, and is currently the only opposition representative in the state legislative assembly.

It is learnt that the same number of seats would be contested by Pakatan, with incumbents all intact, to avoid antagonising any of the current or former candidates.

Meanwhile, Abdul Halim was asked if the state Pakatan leaders have met to negotiate seat allocation in Penang.

It is learnt that the leaders have yet to meet seriously over the issue, but Abdul Halim said several meetings had already been organised to deliberate on the matter.

He added that Pakatan would work as a coalition, and would decide together on matters related to the coming election, especially when it comes to issues of candidacy.

When asked if any of the PKR incumbents would be dropped to pave the way for more winnable candidates, Abdul Halim was cautious to comment.

He was also mum about whether he would contest a seat in the pending polls, which meant he would have to forsake a chance to be House speaker if he wins.

“Although we have submitted our list to the federal leadership, it may still be amended or some names would be filtered,” he said.

“We do not have the finalised list yet and you will know about it when the election comes,” he added.


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