FOUR Pakatan Harapan state governments – Kedah, Perak, Johor and Malacca – are in a shaky position following the weekend’s political manoeuvring that led to the collapse of the federal government.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s move to withdraw the party from PH changed the composition of seats in the legislative assemblies.

Other parties in PH are PKR, DAP and Amanah.

In Kedah, Bersatu’s exit led to PH having fewer seats than the opposition parties, PAS and Umno.

In Johor, a hung assembly could result as PH has only half the 56 seats in the house and if Bersatu’s 11 assemblymen form an alliance with Umno, MIC and PAS with 17 seats, then both will have 28 seats each.

In the last 48 hours, leaders from the four states have rushed to hold meetings and to negotiate positions to save or take over the state government.

Here is a brief overview of each state:

KEDAH

Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, who is also Kedah Bersatu chairman, is committed to staying with PH.

Kedah Amanah deputy chairman Dr Ismail Salleh said although Bersatu left PH, Mukhriz and his five assemblymen are willing to align with the other PH parties to maintain the existing administration.

“No change in government. Mukhriz has agreed to stay with PH in Kedah. He does not want to work with PAS and Umno,” Ismail told The Malaysian Insight.

PH formed the government in Kedah after the 14th general election (GE14) in May 2018 by a slim majority of 19 seats in total against Umno and PAS’ 17.

Bersatu has six seats, PKR (7), DAP (4) and Amanah (2). Umno and PAS have two and 15 seats, respectively.

Sultan of Kedah Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah has asked for the parties’ position in the state assembly, Ismail said, adding that Kedah PH parties remain united.

Mukhriz still needs to cement Kedah PH’s viability and is scheduled to hold a meeting with exco members at his official residence in Alor Star.

Ismail said the exco members would convey to Mukhriz their confidence as MB to continue leading the state.

Kedah Umno and PAS are also busy with meetings. The Malaysian Insight understands that both parties are awaiting instructions from their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

JOHOR

PH formed the state government in 2018 with a majority of 39 seats out of the 56-seat assembly. DAP has 14 seats, Bersatu (11), Amanah (9) and PKR (5).

In the opposition, Barisan Nasional has 16 seats and PAS, one. BN’s share comprises of Umno’s 14 and MIC’s two.

With Bersatu out of PH, the coalition now has 28 seats, just half the total number in the state legislature.

The Malaysian Insight understands that Umno is trying to draw the support of the Bersatu assemblymen to secure at least 29 seats to form the state government.

Johor BN chairman Hasni Mohammad said yesterday that five assemblymen from PKR and Amanah have agreed to cross over.

Hasni is seeking an audience with Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar before Friday to form a new government.

At the same time, The Malaysian Insight understands that DAP, Amanah and PKR are also seeking the support of several Umno and Bersatu assemblymen.

MALACCA

Malacca Chief Minister Adly Zahari tweeted yesterday morning that the PH state government had collapsed.

State DAP chairman Tey Kok Kiew later confirmed this but his deputy, Norhizam Hassan Baktee, insisted the Malacca PH government is intact.

“I’m still on duty. I am in the office today. We are still the PH government,” he told The Malaysian Insight yesterday.

PH formed the state government in 2018 with 15 seats, two more than Umno.

Within PH, DAP has the most seats at eight, Bersatu (2), PKR (3) and Amanah (2).

Sources said there are moves involving a PKR assemblyman and a Bersatu assemblyman to push Umno’s Sg Udang rep Idris Haron, who was formerly the state’s chief minister, for the post again.

At the same time, there is also talk that two reps, Muhammad Jailani Khamid of PKR and Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen of Bersatu, withdrawing their support for Malacca PH.

“That’s speculation. We haven’t made any decision yet,” Jailani told The Malaysian Insight.

PERAK

Perak PH chairman Ahmad Faizal Azumu maintains that PH is a legitimate and functioning state government, of which he is the menteri besar. Faizal is also from Bersatu and its sole assemblyman.

In 2018, PH won 29 of the 59 seats with DAP (18), Amanah (6), PKR (4) and Bersatu (1).

BN won 27 seats and PAS three. Two Umno assembly quit the party to become independents.

It is these two whom Umno and PAS are now said to be wooing in order to gain control of the state government, said sources.

Perak Umno liaison chairman Saarani Mohama declined to comment on the matter. – February 26, 2020.