THERE is a party in the unity government that will support Perikatan Nasional (PN) to form the federal government if it wins the August 12 state elections, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said.

He said PAS was not “making things up” when it claimed the unity government does not have the full support of its coalition partners.

This, he said, included the 10 Umno members of parliament who supported PN to form the federal government after the general election last November.

“Originally, 10 Umno MPs wanted to support us, maybe 15, but they were forced or threatened that they would be brought to court, causing these people to be in fear.

“So a unity government was established in a state of chaos. It is a government of unity but not equality. A component party in the government even opposes the administration itself,” Hadi said at the Setiu mega ceramah event in Terengganu last night.

Hadi said the ruling government is not strong, so PN will also need to pull in lawmakers not only from Umno, but also Sabah and Sarawak, to change the central government.  

“PN’s victory in the six states is very important in order to make changes at the federal government,” he said.

The opposing coalition is seen to be using the sentiment of power transition to the federal government if it wins the state polls as its campaign agenda.

However, PN was roundly criticised, including by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who said the statement was baseless because the elections were to form state governments and not the federal government.

Law and Institutional Reform Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said also said there was no provision in the Federal Constitution stating that the results of the state elections will bring changes to the administration of the federal government.

Azalina said she was surprised how this matter could be raised and urged the parties concerned to present the provision or law they were referring to (on power transition). – August 9, 2023.