PAN’s presence in Kelantan affects Pas’ chances, says Amar

Kelantan Pas believes Pakatan Harapan (PH), especially Parti Amanah Negara’s (PAN) quest to topple the party in the state, is motivated by political revenge.

Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said PAN’s presence in the state would also result in three-cornered fights, which would affect Pas’s chances of winning in the 14th General Election (GE14).

“If it is true that PH wants to bring down Barisan Nasional, they must give way to Kelantan Pas to contest in GE14.

“The three-cornered fights will affect Pas’s opportunity to win, especially in seats where the party had won with slim majorities of fewer than 500 votes.

“There is no reason for PH, especially PAN, to contest in Kelantan and the three-cornered fights will give an advantage to BN to win,” he said here.

Amar said the people’s support for Pas had remained stable based on research by the party.

“This was proven at the ‘Bangkit Mempertahankan Kelantan’ gathering, which was held on Thursday night and attended by almost 50,000 people.

“The sheer number of attendees showed the level of support for Pas. More than 70 per cent of those who attended were young and new voters, They want Pas to remain in power in Kelantan.”

On Pas’s hope to remain in power in the state, Amar said the party would be contesting all the parliamentary and state seats, and was confident of retaining the seats it won in the last general election, as well as winning some new seats.

“We will be contesting in all 14 parliamentary and 45 state seats. We will focus on the seats that we lost by fewer than 500 votes. These are the hot seats that we need to pay more attention.”

Amar admitted that BN and Umno were strong, but Pas was ready to face the coalition.

Kelantan PH deputy chairman Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah said PH was confident of giving a tough fight to BN and Pas in the GE14 as the party had groomed the best candidates to face them.

“Although PAN and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia are new parties, we are working together and not in this alone like Pas. This will make us strong.”

Wan Abdul Rahim said the candidates who would represent PH were experts and comprised lecturers, lawyers, businessmen and doctors.

Besides that, he said, there also social activists.

“Some of our candidates are locals, while the rest are outsiders, but they stay in Kelantan,” he said.

On PH’s menteri besar’s candidate, Wan Abdul Rahim said the issue would be decided by the party later.