WITH its uptick in support and alliance with PAS, Umno is confident of recapturing Perak should snap polls be called, said Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

The former menteri besar said there seems to be a lot of uncertainty within the Pakatan Harapan state government, with regular reports of infighting.

“If there is a crisis that results in a state election being called, Umno-Barisan Nasional and PAS will recapture the state.

“We will avoid three-cornered fights, which are not beneficial and caused us to lose seats in the last elections.

“I’m confident that we can win with the two dominant Malay parties working together,” the Pangkor assemblyman told The Malaysian Insight.

The situation in Perak is dicey, with PH holding just 30 of its 59 state seats.

Of the 30 seats, DAP has 18, PKR (6), Amanah (4) and Bersatu (2). BN has 25 seats, and PAS, three. The remaining state seat, Tualang Sekah, is held by independent Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi, who won on an Umno ticket in the 14th general election.

With two of its excos under corruption and sexual assault investigations, the state PH could be forced to call snap polls if the duo are charged and convicted.

Abdul Yunus Jamhari is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for allegedly leaking minutes of an exco meeting, while Paul Yong is accused by his maid of rape. Both have denied the allegations against them.

Umno’s confidence in recapturing Perak was evident when president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi early this month announced the party’s choice of menteri besar when opening the Tambun division meeting.

He had said liaison chief Saarani Mohamad would be appointed to the post should the Umno-PAS pact lead to a win in Perak.

Saarani demonstrated “great leadership” by uniting the state’s Umno divisions, Zahid had said.

“If the sultan of Perak agrees, this is your menteri besar. I respect the way he (Saarani) manages the state’s Umno divisions.”

Umno and PAS have announced that they will sign a charter on September 14, leading to the establishment of a nationalist Malay-Muslim opposition pact ahead of GE15.

The charter will be signed by Zahid and his PAS counterpart, Abdul Hadi Awang, at Putra World Trade Centre, the Umno headquarters. – July 28, 2019.