Mohamad optimistic BN, Harapan can wrest control of Kedah, Terengganu

 

Barisan Nasional (BN) election director Mohamad Hasan is optimistic that the BN-Pakatan Harapan alliance will be able to wrest control of Terengganu and Kedah in the coming state elections.

However, the Umno deputy president said victory could only be achieved with the right strategy.

“As an underdog in the state polls, we will do our best, and I hope the machinery will continue to intensify their efforts.

“There is a chance to win in Kedah and Terengganu, but in Kelantan, I think we can add seats if we are determined to win in our respective areas,” he said.

The defence minister told this to reporters after officiating the presentation ceremony of the Yayasan Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera Bursary at Wisma Pertahanan, Kuala Lumpur, today.

In the meantime, Mohamad hinted that he would defend the Rantau state seat in Negeri Sembilan in the upcoming state polls.

“Insya-Allah (I will contest the Rantau state seat). We have not decided on the ratio of ‘fresh’ and ‘old’ faces (in the state polls), but we will focus on fielding winnable candidates,” said the Rembau MP.

Mohamad said BN was awaiting the final list of candidates from the six states that will have their elections before vetting them.

Last Saturday, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported to have said that the coalition was expected to contest 45 percent of the 245 state seats in the six-state elections, while Harapan would contest the rest.

Meanwhile, on the fatal hand grenade explosion during a training exercise at Syed Sirajuddin camp in Gemas on June 25, Mohamad said the report will be released after an internal committee set up to look into the incident completed its investigation.

“The police and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) are investigating the incident, so it is best for us to wait for the report of the internal investigation committee,” he said.

In the incident at 12.10pm, a student of the Institute of Administration and Management Studies (Instar), Sendayan air base aircraftman 1 Mohd Iqmal Masdi, 22, was confirmed dead at the scene.

At the same time, trainer corporal Syuib Bidin, 33, died at 5.45pm while being treated at the Segamat Hospital.

- Bernama