BEHIND every cloud is a silver lining. And, behind PAS’ reluctance to join opposition pact Pakatan Harapan lies an opportunity for other parties to replace the Islamist party, particularly in Kedah.

The absence of PAS in PH has opened the door for PKR or Bersatu to stake its claim on the northern state.

“PKR wants to capture Kedah and head the next state government,” Sg Petani MP Johari Abdul told The Malaysian Insight after an Invoke ceramah in Pekan Kota Sarang Semut over the weekend.

“We are aiming to contest at least 16 seats in the next general election.”

Before this, PKR had to contend with a stronger coalition partner to lead Kedah.

But, PAS’ departure from PH, or Pakatan Rakyat, had created a void and opportunity for PKR to move up in Kedah, said Johari.

PH member Bersatu, led by Kedahan and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is also eyeing the state.

Bersatu’s sole Kedah lawmaker (Ayer Hitam) and deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir, who stepped down as menteri besar in 2015, told The Malaysian Insight in an earlier interview that his party was “keen” on Kedah.

The party is widely expected to mount its campaign to win the state on the back of Mukhriz’s popularity among the youth before he was forced to stepped down following a fallout with Umno.

On the other hand, PKR aims to promote Johari as a menteri besar candidate in the next election.

“I will contest the Gurun state seat. And yes, PKR is planning have me lead the state if we win the most seats in the next election,” said Johari.

But what about the fact that PKR and Bersatu are partners in the same pact and eyeing control of the same state?

Johari would only say PKR knew of Bersatu’s intentions, and that seat negotiations were ongoing.

On whether PH can win the state without PAS, he said Kedahans were no longer afraid of change after 2008, and were expected to back the coalition even if there was no PAS.

In 2013, PKR won four state seats out of the 10 it contested in the 36-seat Kedah state legislature, while PAS won nine out of the 24 it contested.

The PAS tally was subsequently reduced to eight after Pengkalan Kundor assemblyman Phahrolrazi Zawawi left to join splinter party Amanah.

Similarly, Barisan Nasional’s 21 seats were reduced after Mukhriz was sacked by Umno last year.

In 2008, Pakatan Rakyat captured the state with PAS (16), PKR (5) and DAP (1) for a total of 22 seats, before PKR’s Tan Wei Shu (Bakar Arang) quit the party to become an independent in 2010.

PAS a liability for PH in Kedah

The Islamist party’s absence in PH in Kedah was a boon for the opposition as voters did not see much development between 2008 and 2013, said Saiful Izham Ramli, who oversaw polls in the state for PKR during the 2013 general election.

“The PAS administration, from 2008 to 2013, wasn’t very effective,” he said diplomatically.

“They didn’t do enough planning for development in the state during their five-year rule.

“So, when BN entered the election in 2013 with Mukhriz as its MB candidate, we lost.”

This time around, said Saiful, PKR was more confident that its new partners, Bersatu and Amanah, were capable of overcoming the vote deficit despite PAS’ absence.

“Sentiments are still strong for the opposition here. More so as Dr Mahathir is leading the opposition charge, and they feel more confident that development will be better if the opposition is given another chance in Kedah,” said the lawyer.

Meanwhile, PKR-led think tank Invoke Malaysia continued its campaign in the state with a flurry of events over the weekend.

In front of a row of shop lots facing the main road in Pekan Kota Sarang Semut, local PH leaders, led by Johari, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli and Kuala Kedah MP Dr Azman Ismail, spoke to a crowd of more than 400 residents.

Despite the pouring rain, the mixed crowd stayed on to listen to Invoke chief Rafizi trash BN on a range of issues, from 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s (1MDB) late payment of its debt to the International Petroleum Investment Company to cost of living issues caused by the goods and services tax.

Hamzah Ahmad, who used to support PAS, said he was satisfied with Rafizi’s explanation on why PH was now working with Dr Mahathir and how DAP would not wither down Malay dominance in the political arena.

“Besides the 1MDB issues, the cost of living is really hitting us now,” said the 62-year-old.

“Ikan kembung (local fish), which used to cost between RM3 and RM5 per kilogramme last year, is now between RM15 and RM18 while our income is the same,” said Hamzah, who drove from the nearby town of Pendang.

On Saturday, Invoke hosted a breakfast event in Gurun, followed by a “high tea” ceramah in the Kulim main market area, attended by a crowd of 500.

In the evening, it simultaneously held a 50-table fundraising event in Sg Petani and a ceramah in Pantai Merdeka. – August 15, 2017.