‘Even Pagoh may not be safe’
Shabery scoffs at azmin’s claim that Perikatan can win 112 seats
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek has hit out at Perikatan Nasional election director Datuk Seri Azmin Ali for claiming that it would be able to get 112 parliamentary seats in GE15 to form the next Federal Government.
Ahmad Shabery, who is Barisan Nasional elections communications chief, said based on its own internal survey and cross checking, even Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s seat in Pagoh may not be safe.
He said Muhyiddin won on a Pakatan Harapan ticket in the last general election, which was supported largely by non-malay votes.
“But the non-malay votes (in Pagoh) are still with Pakatan. If it happens, Perikatan will lose its head and become a ‘headless dragon’,” he said yesterday.
He was asked to comment on Azmin’s remarks that Perikatan was confident of winning at least 112 seats and capturing Putrajaya.
Speaking to reporters at an event in Gombak, Selangor, Azmin was quoted as saying that Perikatan was confident it could get at least 112 seats to form the government.
“We are confident that Perikatan will get a number of seats positive enough for us to form a government this Nov 19. Of course, we aim higher, but at least 112.
“(To get two-thirds majority) we will have to work hard during the last week of the campaign. There is nothing impossible because voters today are very mature. They want a government that can serve them.
“And if we, Perikatan, can convince them, it is not impossible for us to get a number big enough to form the government,” said Azmin, who is contesting the Gombak parliamentary seat.
Ahmad Shabery said in the event that Muhyiddin could not even keep his Pagoh seat, who would Perikatan pick as its prime minister candidate should it take over Putrajaya.
“Is Azmin prepared to name PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang or Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Faizal Azumu as PM candidate?
“Azmin needs to address the issue in Pagoh first, or he can even declare himself as the prime minister candidate for Perikatan,” he quipped.
Ahmad Shabery also hit out at Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan for refusing to dissolve the state assemblies in states they govern so that elections there could be held simultaneously with the national polls.
“If they can manage the state well, why not dissolve it at the same time?
“The voters will have to come back to vote again after the general election and this will have a negative impact,” he said.
Malaysians will go to the polls on Nov 19, with early voting set for Nov 15.