BN to win a minimum of 28 seats in Selangor?

Utusan Malaysia predicts that Barisan Nasional will win at least half of the 56 state assembly seats in Selangor.

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional would win at least half of the 56 state seats in Selangor based on the number of seats won by Pakatan Rakyat with a slim majority at the last general election, Utusan Malaysia reported today.

In a news analysis entitled “50-50 or two thirds?”, Utusan Malaysia put forth the above notion based on 11 state seats which it said was won by the opposition with a very slender majority.

They are Sungai Air Tawar (123 vote majority), Sabak (117), Sekinchan (190) Kuala Kubu Baru (448) Permatang (608), Bukit Malawati (297), Kuang (517), Taman Templer (613) Paya Jaras (642) Teluk Datok (698), and Sri Serdang (45).

The confidence was also based on the rise in the number of Malay voters. As such Utusan said that there was no need to worry about Chinese votes swaying in favour of Pakatan.

The influence of Chinese voters, according to the Umno-owned newspaper, was limited to only nine state seats located within four parliament constituencies. The four are Kelana Jaya, Subang, Petaling Jaya Utara and Petaling Jaya Selatan.

Among the major grouse for the people of Selangor was the state government’s failure to bring in development projects, the paper said.

Infighting in Perak

Utusan Malaysia also highlighted on the infighting among Pakatan leaders in Perak.

The newspaper said the announcement of PKR’s Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty as Bagan Serai parliamentary candidate was not welcomed by Perak PAS youth because the incumbent MP Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri defected from PKR to be independent.

Prior to that the seat was contested by PAS.

Perak PAS Youth meanwhile declared former Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin as Changkat Jering candidate in protest against a move made by PKR. Nizar is currently Pasir Panjang state assemblyman and Bukit Gantang MP.

There is also a disquiet within PAS as ex-CID chief Fauzi Shaari is almost a confirmed candidate for the Larut seat.

They may also be a tussle for seats in Teluk Intan, Pasir Salak and Parit as PKR had wanted to contest those seats. Teluk Intan is held by M Manogaran of the DAP. Parit has been contested by PAS in the past two general elections but was defeated by Umno. Pasir Salak, a stronghold of Umno, was contested by PAS in 2004 and PKR in 2008.

Anwar to move away?

Utusan Malaysia’s senior journalist Hassan Mohd Noor meanwhile focussed on the Permatang Pauh parliament seat and the two state seats that were won via by-elections.

The two are Penanti state seat held by Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mansor Osman of PKR and Permatang Pasir which is held by Salleh Man of PAS.

The writer said Mansor was looking for a different seat following a spat with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. There are also talks that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim would leave Permatang Pauh parliament seat.