GE15: Pahang hangs in the balance as no majority to form state govt

KUANTAN: The Pahang government now hangs in the balance with uncertainty surrounding whether Barisan Nasional or Perikatan Nasional will be the senior partner in governing the state.

With Perikatan now holding 17 seats, Barisan with 16 and Pakatan Harapan with eight, none of the coalitions have the majority to form the state government on their own without going into a partnership with the other.

Since the national Perikatan leadership had rejected any cooperation with Pakatan, it is likely the Pahang government could be in a partnership between Perikatan and Barisan.

But who would be the mentri besar remains to be seen even as word had been going around that PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, as the new Cheka assemblyman, was being pushed for the post.

State Barisan chief Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who had kept his head low ever since the results came trickling in early Sunday (Nov 20) morning, only issued a short statement on Facebook.

"I would like to thank the people of Pahang for voting Barisan. Not forgetting my thanks as well to the party machinery and others for helping Barisan. I really appreciate your service and efforts.

"Pray for the best for Pahang to remain prosperous," he said.

Pahang Perikatan chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah's prediction of the coalition winning at least 16 seats was accurate.

Coming in with the eight state seats held by PAS before the dissolution of the state assembly, Perikatan had more than doubled its holdings by sweeping up Cheka, Kuala Sentul, Pulau Tawar, Bukit Ibam, Sungai Lembing, Pulau Manis, Kuala Semantan, Lanchang and Jenderak.

Pakatan did not make any gains as it held on to its existing seats of Bilut, Ketari, Tanah Rata, Tras, Mentakab, Triang, Teruntum and Semambu, while losing Sabai to Barisan.

The undetermined Tioman seat has now become even more crucial for Barisan, as it seeks to be on equal grounds and terms with Perikatan.

Tioman would see its election on Dec 7 after polling was suspended due to the death of Perikatan candidate Md Yunus Ramli.

As for parliamentary seats, Perikatan made massive gains in Pahang by securing Kuantan, Maran, Temerloh, Jerantut, Kuala Krau and Rompin.

Many heavyweights fell to Perikatan's onslaught such as Pakatan's three-term Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, Barisan's Datuk Seri Hasan Arifin in Rompin and former state exco Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin, who failed in his second attempt to seize Temerloh.

In Bentong, Young Syefura Othman defended the seat for Pakatan albeit with a narrow margin of 692 votes.

She defeated two former Bentong MPs in Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai and Wong Tack, as well as two others by garnering 25,075 votes.

The newly-minted Bentong MP admitted that her victory was not an easy one as her majority was low.

"However, this will fuel my spirit to work hard to gain the trust of the people of Bentong. I am now a representative of the people of Bentong - regardless of religion, race or political affiliation.

"I will do my job to the best of my abilities so that my goals and vision for Bentong will be achieved. I am the voice of all of you in the Dewan Rakyat," said Young Syefura in a statement.