PAKATAN Harapan is the strongest opposition pact in Malaysia’s history, said its secretary-general Saifuddin Abdullah.

“In the era before 1999, (there were) various forms of opposition pacts but never a united front as many, as big and as serious as Pakatan Harapan,” he said to applause from about 200 delegates in Kuantan at the coalition’s first state level convention in Pahang today.

He added that the coalition is in high spirits after concluding its national convention on January 7, having resolved seat negotiations in the peninsula ahead of the elections.

At the state level, Saifuddin said seat negotiations for Johor has concluded while in Negri Sembilan, the coalition is one seat short of sealing the deal.

The coalition has set January 31 as the deadline for all states to finalise its seat negotiations.

“Our (national) manifesto is 90% ready,” said Saifuddin, adding that PH has unveiled its offers for youth, women and a new deal for Sabah and Sarawak.

He said state manifestos are almost completed and ready to be publicised, particularly in Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

On January 7, PH announced its chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its candidate for prime minister and its president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail his deputy should the pact win the next general election.

It also announced that Bersatu will contest in 52 seats, PKR 51 seats, DAP 35 seats, and Amanah 27 seats.

Despite Saifuddin’s upbeat rhetoric, not all is well within the coalition.

The Malaysian Insight reported yesterday that seat negotiations in Selangor are in a stalemate as PKR Selangor has yet to meet three other component parties to discuss the matter.

PKR Selangor had openly objected to Dr Mahathir’s nomination as chairman after the PH convention. – January 27, 2018.