PAKATAN Harapan (PH) is set to retain Selangor but without the two-thirds majority achieved by its predecessor Pakatan Rakyat, a think tank said today.

Institut Darul Ehsan’s (IDE) chief executive Professor Mohammad Redzuan Othman said based on its survey finding PH would win 32 seats in the 56-seat assembly.

He said BN will win 24 seats, which is an increase of the 12 it picked up in the last general election.

According to the IDE survey that was conducted over four months from 2017 to early this year, BN has boosted its chances following the redelineation, which made it a sure bet in seven seats and could win another 17 because of three-cornered fights.

Redzuan said the redelineation has given BN an advantage despite issues such as the goods and services tax and the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

“It’s difficult for BN to win Selangor but they might win more seats. This is not counting the postal or early votes,” he said during a press conference at the IDE office in Shah Alam.

“PAS will not be able to defeat Harapan but it will help give BN some wins in some three-cornered fights,” he said.

In the 13th general election, BN won 12 state seats while Pakatan Rakyat, comprising PKR, DAP and PAS won 44 state seats.

He said a survey conducted from August 2017 to March this year on three-cornered fights showed that 42% of voters who said they will vote BN in August last year said the same in March. – May 4, 2018.