Anwar confident in reclaiming Kedah, PKR’s former stronghold

 

PKR PRESIDENT Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday that he sees potential for Kedah to be recaptured based on the party’s current capabilities.

Anwar identified Kedah as a state with good potential and capability. “State and parliamentary seats that we once captured must be defended as this state once emerged as PKR’s earliest stronghold,” he said.

He is confident PKR will rise in Kedah, pointing out the turmoil in the other political parties and his record of running at the federal level combined with the economic strides.

Speaking during a Kedah PKR event, he said that he also wants Kedah to serve as the best stronghold model for the party in the other states. Note that in 2018, the Kedah state election concluded with a hung assembly, as no party secured a simple majority. 

PH emerged with the largest share, winning 18 seats, just one short of the 19 needed for a majority. Despite falling short, the Sultan of Kedah extended an invitation to PH to form the state government.

On 11 May 2018, Mukhriz Mahathir of Bersatu was sworn in as the Chief Minister. At the time, PH comprised PKR, DAP, Bersatu, and Amanah.

However, on 12 May 2020, the Mukhriz Mahathir’s government lost its majority in the Legislative Assembly after two PKR assemblymen left the party to become independent and PN-friendly MPs. 

Four Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia assemblymen also declared support for PN. In the 15th Kedah state election on 12 August 2023, PH was severely defeated. PN, led by PAS, won a landslide victory with 33 of 36 seats, securing a huge majority.

The BN–PH pact took the remaining 3 seats. For the first time in Kedah’s history, BN failed to secure any representation, leaving PH as the state’s main opposition. Kedah is currently under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Mohd Nor of PAS. —Focus Malaysia