Battle for PAS' fortresses: Harapan yet to decide on 'poster boys'

 

Pakatan Harapan has not discussed who would be its “poster boys” in the battle for the PAS- controlled states of Terengganu and Kelantan.

"There have been no discussions yet," Harapan Terengganu chairperson Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad told Malaysiakini without elaborating.

Similarly, Harapan Kelantan chairperson Muhammad Hussain also confirmed there have been no discussions.

He said that formal talks would have to be held with BN since the two coalitions would be cooperating in the elections.

"So far, there has been no discussion. At Harapan’s state level, we have just set up a committee to (conduct) negotiations with BN," he added.

Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad

In the 2018 general election, PAS wrested Terengganu from BN after winning 22 of the 32 state legislative assembly seats and maintained its dominance in Kelantan, which has been under its control since 1990, by winning 37 out of the 45 seats up for grabs.

PAS, which is now part of the Perikatan Nasional coalition comprising Bersatu and Gerakan, also scored a clean sweep of the eight parliamentary seats in Terengganu and 14 in Kelantan in last November’s 15th national polls.

Terengganu is also the home state of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Amanah communications director Khalid Samad had said that Harapan is expected to step aside for BN to helm the state governments in Kelantan, Terengganu and another PAS-ruled state, Kedah, if the states fall in the polls.

Khalid Samad

According to him, the candidates for the menteri besar posts would be decided at an upcoming meeting between Harapan parties.

“It cannot be denied that the candidate for menteri besar/chief minister in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang will come from Harapan.

“BN has to accept that it does not have as many seats in these states,” he said.

Khalid has since clarified this was his personal opinion and does not reflect Harapan’s official stand.

On the PN front, its election director and Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor revealed that their menteri besar candidates for all six states would be appointed as the coalition’s "poster boys”. - Mkini