PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) has plans to capture Selangor and Negri Sembilan in the coming state elections, but it will not be an easy feat, said Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

“Negri Sembilan and Selangor are doable, but we are looking at tough fights.

“As for Penang, it is going to be difficult because of the voter demographic,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He said PN is focused and will continue fighting for basic issues affecting the people like it did during the general election.

Political observers said Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) must sort out their differences if they are to convince voters of their cooperation ahead of the state polls.

The observers said dissatisfied voters could reject the uneasy alliance or abstain from casting their ballots if outstanding issues are not ironed out, handing rival PN the advantage in the state polls.

PH-led states (Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Penang) and PN-led states (Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu) decided not to dissolve their assemblies in conjunction with the general election in November. However, they need to call polls by September. 

Wan Fayhsal said PN has its manifesto all worked out and is confident to become the government-in-waiting as it has solutions for the people.

He said the coalition wants to inform voters in states not under PN that as the opposition, it is ready to govern in Selangor and Negri Sembilan. 

“We have a strategy to wrest back the states, but it won’t be easy in Penang.

“We will continue to inform the people in states under PN that we can provide better economic organisation and solutions for the voters.

“We will also counter all the propaganda hurled (against) PN with facts.

“We want to show the people that we are fair and transparent.” 

Wan Fayhsal said wherever the Malay voter base exceeds 20%, PN stands a good chance. 

“We only have to present a better strategy to convince fence-sitters who are Malays or non-Muslims to give PN a chance to govern the two states. 

“It’s not impossible for PN.” 

As for Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan, he said PN has no issues retaining those states. – March 11, 2023.