PH set to form govt in Kedah

But risk of PAS teaming up with BN to create hung assembly remains

ALOR SETAR: Pakatan Harapan is all set to form the state government in Kedah – provided a hung assembly scenario does not arise.

Pakatan holds 18 seats, half the total number of 36, with PAS winning 15 and Barisan Nasional three.

Kedah Pakatan chief Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir told reporters that in a situation where three coalitions contested 36 seats, the one with the most number of seats had the mandate to form the state government.

“In our case, despite having exactly half the total number of state seats, we are the largest party with the right to form the state government.

“Of course, there is that risk of PAS collaborating with Barisan. However unlikely that may seem, and we don’t deny that risk, we should not delay this (forming state government) too long,” he told reporters yesterday.

At this juncture, should PAS and Barisan decide to form a pact, their total tally would match Pakatan’s, resulting in a hung state assembly.

In the case of a hung assembly, the state law requires a 60-day period for negotiations, and if the situation remains unresolved, fresh elections must be called.

While Kedah Barisan issued a statement saying it accepted the election results, Kedah PAS is waiting for its national leadership to decide on its next move.

“If we do become the Opposition, we will be a strong one and if we form the government, what is most important is to form a politically stable government,” Kedah PAS commissioner Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Syeikh Fakhrurazi told reporters.

Pakatan has been tightlipped about its MB candidate for Kedah, although Mukhriz has been tipped to reclaim the position which he was ousted from in 2016.

Sources said Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah of Parti Bersatu Pribumi Malaysia, who won the Anak Bukit seat, was also being considered for the top post.

Amiruddin has retained the Anak Bukit seat since a 2002 by-election as a PAS candidate following the death of then PAS president Datuk Fadzil Noor.

“Even though he left PAS to join Pribumi last year, he managed to retain his seat because of the high regard people have for him.

“He is the next best candidate for MB if Mukhriz does not take up the post,” said a party source.

Mukhriz, who won the Jitra state and Jerlun parliamentary seats, could take up a Federal appointment.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new Kedah MB was initially scheduled for 3pm yesterday at Istana Anak Bukit, with a rehearsal in the morning.

However, the Kedah Sultan’s private secretary Datuk Elmi Yusoff said in a statement that the ceremony had been postponed. No reasons were given.

Former state executive counsellor Datuk Rosnah Majid said any delay in the appointment of the new MB from Pakatan would create problems.

“Kedahans need to know and get on with their lives as the election has been completed,” she said.