PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar says an early election in Penang would be dangerous to the opposition. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — An early election in Penang would be dangerous to the opposition that cannot guarantee straight fights against Barisan Nasional, PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar said.

Elaborating on her party's rationale for resisting DAP's push for the early state election, the Lembah Pantai MP said neither party was assured of retaining the seats they currently hold in the Penang assembly.

“We all face that risk. With the possibility of three-cornered fights, theoretically speaking, no one wins but Umno,” she was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini.

PKR and DAP leaders have become increasingly antagonistic over their parties' difference on the snap poll.

Yesterday, PKR's Latheefa Koya took veiled swipes at DAP and accused it of acting unilaterally on multiple occasions, after DAP publicity chief Tony Pua questioned the sincerity of PKR's friendship over its refusal to support the state election.

Prior to that, PKR's Fahmi Fadzil and DAP's Syerleena Abdul Rashid also criticised each other's parties over the difference of opinions on the state election.

Today, Nurul Izzah said she hoped such public exchanges would end and for the decision on the election to be made privately among the Pakatan Harapan parties.

“We should reduce public discourse to the bare minimum,” she said.

PKR twice said publicly it was unconvinced of DAP's reasons for seeking the early election.

Former partner PAS said it will field candidates in every seat if the Penang election is held, confirming PKR's fears of multi-way clashes among opposition parties.

DAP has claimed that the election was needed to “restore hope” to the public and “return the mandate” to voters, and repeatedly denied that it was meant as a display of support for Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who is facing corruption charges.

Lim was charged with abuse of power and corruption at the Penang High Court last month over the alleged approval of a rezoning application by Magnificent Emblem to convert agricultural land to residential, and over his purchase of a RM2.8 million house from businesswoman Phang Li Koon. The house was purportedly bought at below market value of RM4.27 million.