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PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has expressed regret that Malaysia is unlikely to achieve synchronised federal and state elections, saying the original aspiration for concurrent polls has been undermined by increasingly fragmented electoral cycles across the country.
Commenting on Johor’s move to dissolve its 56-seat State Legislative Assembly, Chow said the divergence in election timing between states and the federal government has made nationwide alignment significantly more complicated.
He said Penang had previously supported the idea of holding simultaneous national and state elections as a cost-saving and administratively efficient measure, but recent developments suggested that such coordination was becoming increasingly unworkable.
“It is now very difficult to synchronise national and state elections because the election calendars have already been disrupted. The timelines between some states and the Federal Government are simply too far apart. It may be a awhile.”
He added that unless all states agreed on a common approach, synchronisation would be difficult to justify, particularly when considering the democratic mandate given to elected state governments.
“Unless all states agree to do so, it would also be unfair to the constituents. For example, Penang still has about two-and-a-half years left in its current term. Dissolving the state legislative assembly prematurely would mean cutting short the mandate given by the people," said Chow.
“So, there are many issues that stand in the way of holding concurrent national and state elections,” he told reporters when asked to comment on Johor’s decision, which paves the way for its 16th state election.
Chow, who is also a member of the DAP Central Executive Committee and former Penang DAP chairman, said the current electoral landscape had been shaped by earlier decisions in which several states opted not to dissolve their assemblies alongside Parliament, resulting in staggered election cycles.
He indicated that the resulting gap between federal and state mandates has created long-term structural challenges for electoral coordination, making simultaneous polls increasingly unlikely without broad national consensus.
When asked whether Penang would consider following Johor’s example and dissolve its state assembly early, Chow said the state government would defer to the party’s central leadership.
“We will abide by the decision of the party leadership. And, as usual, we will deploy our election machinery and workers to Johor to assist in any way possible and support Pakatan Harapan (PH) during the election campaign. We are also monitoring developments in other states and are waiting to see if any state decides to call for a snap election,” he said.
Separately, Chow had earlier officiated the launch of the Sunway Medical Centre Penang Advanced Orthopaedic and Spine Centre, describing it as a milestone in strengthening the state’s healthcare capabilities and medical innovation ecosystem.
“This launch reflects Penang’s continued progress as a centre for quality healthcare, medical innovation and specialised treatment. More importantly, it demonstrates our shared commitment to helping people live healthier, more active and more productive lives,” he said.
Sunway Medical Centre Penang chief executive officer Christine Lee Chwee Ngoh said the new facility marked a significant step in enhancing the hospital’s position as a leading provider of orthopaedic and spine care in northern Malaysia.
Sunway Healthcare Group president Datuk Lau Beng Long said the group plans to expand its footprint in Penang with another hospital in Bayan Lepas, citing strong growth potential in healthcare services and medical tourism in the state. - June 2, 2026