GEORGE TOWN: Penang might not dissolve its legislature if the 15th General Election (GE15) is called during the monsoon, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.

"If it (GE15) is not (called) during the monsoon, then that is another story.

"But to hold it (GE15) during the monsoon, there is a likelihood that we (Penang) may not (have the state polls concurrently with the national one) as it is highly risky," he told reporters at his office in Komtar here today.

Chow said the state had stated that it might hold its polls concurrently with the national one if it was called towards the end of this year. 

At that time, he added that, the state had not considered the monsoon.

"At that time, we said that we might follow if the dissolution was nearer to the full term.

"But, of course now, with Barisan Nasional so determined to have early elections, even during the monsoon, I am sure many people have criticised this decision.

"Definitely, the monsoon period is not suitable to have election campaigns and polling. What happens if floods occur on polling day? If it happens on one of the campaign days, we can understand as we have other days to campaign. But what will happen if it (flooding) happens the night before or on the voting day itself?

"How would Malaysian voters exercise their right to vote when they have to face a life and death situation when their homes are flooded? Even polling centres may not be spared. So, how do you go and vote in a flooded polling station?" he asked.

Chow said, those who were fixated on calling the election might have not considered all of these issues as well as life and death concerns of voters.

He said floods would result in a very low turnout, not because voters did not want to go out to vote, but they could not do so.

He added that even polling clerks could not go to the polling stations should the facilities be inundated and no vehicles could send the ballot papers to the polling stations.

"So, will that be a meaningful election in that manner?

"The whole electoral process will be jeopardised, and can we call ourselves a democratic country when we can't even go to vote on polling day because some people are so determined to hold elections during the monsoon?

"I think the voices of the people are loud enough against holding the election during the monsoon, because they have to protect their lives and not go to the polling stations when these facilities are also inundated.

"We have seen photos of schools and community halls being flooded during the monsoon and all of these are polling stations. So, how can we expect voters to vote?" he asked.

Asked whether it was a strategy to bank on a low turnout if the election was held during the monsoon, Chow said even with reduced turnout, people would vote against Barisan Nasional

Pressed if DAP was prepared to face the election if it was called, he said: "I think let them consider the voices and the strong objections of the people first before we go to your question."

PKR had planned to organise a 'referendum' to voice its objection to the possibility of GE15 being held during the monsoon.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli was quoted saying that the move was to demonstrate the public's displeasure with Umno and its president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, over the latter's willingness to risk holding elections when there was a danger of annual floods at the end of the year.

He had also said that Zahid's recent statement on Barisan Nasional's willingness to brave the floods if GE15 was called, showed that Zahid was out of touch with the reality faced by the public.