BN-PN GE16 talks cannot be based on 2022 results, says Umno leader

 Jerantut Umno chief Haris Salleh Hamzah says the two coalitions must consider changes in the political landscape since the last general election.

Jerantut Umno chief Haris Salleh Hamzah said political cooperation between BN and PN would not be a matter of seat negotiations alone but would have to focus on creating political stability. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional must base their seat negotiations in Pahang on the current strength of their component parties rather than just their performance in the previous general election, says a grassroots Umno leader.

Jerantut Umno chief Haris Salleh Hamzah said the two coalitions would have to evaluate voter support, as well as their candidates’ track records and chances of winning, adding that the political landscape is constantly changing.

“They cannot devise a formula for GE16 simply based on the results of GE15. What happened in the past should be respected as history, but the present situation must be assessed in the context of current realities,” he told FMT.

Haris’s remarks come after Pahang menteri besar and state Umno chief Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said Umno was open to cooperating with PAS in the next general election.

Pahang PAS commissioner Rosli Jabar said PAS was prepared to negotiate with Umno over the menteri besar’s post and did not want to take a hardline stance on the matter.

In the last state election, Umno contributed 16 of the 17 state seats won by BN, while PAS won 15 seats and Pakatan Harapan secured eight.

BN subsequently partnered with PH to form the state government under Wan Rosdy.

Haris, who is also an appointed state assemblyman, said any form of cooperation would have to be based on trust and mutual give-and-take.

He said cooperation would not be a matter of seat negotiations alone, but would have to create political stability.

This would enable the state government to focus on issues such as the cost of living, education, job opportunities and local development, he added.

“The people do not want politicians who only think about seats instead of dealing with their actual needs,” he said. - FMT