BARISAN Nasional’s (BN) decision on choosing to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form the Pahang government was because the political bloc was ready to cooperate without placing any conditions, Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said.

He said this was done so that the state government could be established immediately for the sake of stability.

He said Pahang PH chairman Amirudin Shari, who is also Selangor menteri besar, had contacted him after the results of the general election saw a hung Pahang state assembly, as no political bloc obtained a simple majority.

Wan Rosdy, who is also Pahang BN chairman, said he was also contacted by Perikatan Nasional (PN) to discuss the formation of a state government. However, the coalition, which was represented by PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, had put several conditions for the purpose.

Among them was that Wan Rosdy would be appointed a federal minister as a senator while the position of menteri besar, state assembly speaker, an equal proportion of state executive council members and three appointed assemblymen would be given to PN.

However, Wan Rosdy said PN later offered the position of menteri besar to BN after being informed that PH did not put any conditions on the formation of the state government.

“I thought about it and saw that this was not a discussion, but it had been decided and determined (by PN)... in the state assembly, there are 42 seats. If I were to agree, they would have 22 votes in the state assembly, which could cause me to fall (as the menteri besar) at any time,” he said during campaigning for the Tioman state seat last night.

“So (if it happens) what will happen to the state government? We want to establish a state government as we want to continue our agenda to work, continue the stability and prosperity. There are many agendas to be achieved, not just politicking.”

For the first time in Pahang, BN and PH shared the stage as Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and Amirudin also joined the programme.

“The decision to be with PH was not my decision alone. I brought it up in discussions with my fellow assemblymen, in the Umno liaison body… I told them what happened and we assemblymen and Pahang BN unanimously agreed to be with PH,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohamad, in his speech, reminded all electors in the Tioman constituency to vote for BN candidate Mohd Johari Hussain after PH decided that its candidate, Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly, give way to Johari, taking into account the cooperation between BN and PH at the state and federal levels.

He also admitted that at the beginning of the collaboration, he was asked by BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan on how he would campaign with Umno after 44 years of “bashing” them.

“I don’t know how to begin. We in politics can change friends, but we will not change the goals and policies we hold,” he said.

“We will take the opposition’s criticism, the people’s criticism to build a better country by upholding the constitution.”

On the decision to give way to the BN candidate in the Tioman election, Mohamad said he did not receive any resistance from the state leadership regarding the move.

“So far, there is no (opposition to the decision). Complaints are normal. God willing, we can manage it, this is the party’s decision,” he said.

“When the decision is made, everyone has to obey. If anyone is not satisfied, I think that is only temporary.”

When asked if such cooperation would continue in state elections to be held in several other states after this, Mohamad said it would be decided when the time comes.

The Tioman election will be held on December 7, after being postponed following the death of PN candidate Md Yunus Ramli on the general election polling day.

The other candidates in the contest next week are Nor Idayu Hashim of PN, Osman A. Bakar (Pejuang) and Sulaiman Bakar (Independent). – Bernama, December 1, 2022.