State polls: Harapan-BN cooperation 'almost certain' in six states, says Mahfuz

 

Cooperation between Pakatan Harapan and BN for the upcoming six state elections is “almost certain to happen”, said Kedah Pakatan Harapan chairperson Mahfuz Omar.

Mahfuz (above) expressed confidence that both the ruling government coalitions will collaborate to face the state polls, saying that moving solo and contesting against each other would only send a bad message about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s “unity government”.

“I see that it (the collaboration) is almost certainly going to happen. It’s not right if it doesn’t happen,” he was quoted as saying by Harapan Daily.

“If it doesn’t happen, it means we’re giving the wrong message on what the ‘unity government’ at the federal level is, where there’s a combination of Harapan-BN and other parties.

“So, it is almost certain that the state polls in the six states will take place with the collaboration of Harapan and BN to face Perikatan Nasional.”

The Amanah vice-president revealed that Harapan, at the national level, has already given the green light to its leaders to hold preliminary discussions with BN to face the state polls.

Kedah talks

At the Kedah level, Mahfuz said Amanah leaders including himself have met with the state BN chairperson Jamil Khir Baharom to discuss the cooperation.

He told the Malay portal that he sees the discussions as a positive approach that will lead to better understanding.

“Along with two other Amanah leaders, we have met Jamil together with the state BN secretary and several others at the Umno office to discuss Kedah issues, especially to face the state election,” the former Pokok Sena MP said.

During the 15th General Election (GE15), PN won 14 out of 15 parliamentary seats in Kedah.

PKR’s Mohammed Taufiq Johari, son of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul, was the sole Harapan candidate who won in Kedah.

Taufiq defended his father’s seat in Sungai Petani with a majority of 1,115 in a five-way battle. - Mkini