Harapan focuses on seizing Kedah, confident of retaining 3 states in polls

 

Pakatan Harapan will focus on Kedah in its bid to seize the state, which is currently governed by Perikatan Nasional, in the upcoming state election.

Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said apart from that, the coalition will also defend its governments in three states, namely Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang.

“Of the four states we focus on, I think the better approach is to focus on Kedah as PN is busy defending Kedah, and less focused on Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Penang. Hence, we have to focus on Kedah.

“I think our president (Anwar Ibrahim) does not even need to fight against the Kedah menteri besar. By rights, PKR top leaders should be on the front, and the prime minister does not need to enter the arena at all,” he said.

Saifuddin said this in his closing speech at the PKR Special National Congress 2023, which was themed 'Malaysia Madani, Implementation of Idealism', at Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam today.

Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail

Saifuddin, who is also the home minister, said for the six states’ elections, Harapan needed an aggressive approach in an effort to gain voter support for the coalition, which comprises PKR, DAP, Amanah and Upko.

The six states involved in the elections are Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Meanwhile, PKR vice-president and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari expressed confidence that Harapan is able to defend Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang with a bigger majority in the upcoming state elections, as a result of good policies by the federal and state governments.

Another vice-president, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, said that the party needs to work hard to capture Kelantan and Terengganu, even though both states are seen as difficult to penetrate.

Nik Nazmi, who is also the Kelantan and Terengganu Leadership Council chairperson, said the people in both east coast states deserve a better state government to champion their plight.

The one-day special congress, which focused on the party's preparations to face the state elections, and the strengthening of cooperation between Harapan and the unity government, was attended by about 3,000 delegates from all over the country, including observers.

- Bernama