Shahidan Kassim: Ahmad Zahid should resign so that BN and PN can be friends

KANGAR: Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional must now unite to form a stable political climate, said Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (pic).

He also hoped that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would "step down honourably" to allow for the union of the two coalitions to happen.

"I hope Ahmad Zahid will give a chance to (Umno vice-president) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob to lead Umno. The struggle for Malay rights in Umno and Perikatan is the same.

"We want to be friends again. If not, it will be difficult," said Shahidan in a press conference held in the wee hours of Sunday (Nov 19) after the Election Commission confirmed Perikatan Nasional's stunning victory in the state.

Shahidan was once again Arau MP, defending his seat by gaining 31,458 votes, leaving contenders Datuk Rozabil Abd Rahman (Umno) and Fathin Amelina Fazlie (Pakatan) far behind after they gained 8,242 and 7,089 votes respectively.

Angered after being dropped from Barisan's candidates list for GE15, Shahidan contested in Arau on a PAS ticket. He was sacked from Umno.

Barisan was soundly rejected by Perlisian voters and lost in all the three parliamentary seats and 15 state seats.

Perikatan bagged the three Federal seats and further conquered 14 of the 15 state seats.

The last remaining state seat, which was Indera Kayangan in downtown Kangar, was won by Pakatan Harapan's incumbent Gan Ay Ling, 48, from PKR.

Married with three children, Gan defended her seat after garnering 4,830 votes (33.4%) with a majority of 1,873.

Perikatan's P. Pramoot (Bersatu) scored 2,957 votes, Barisan's Lim Weng Chee (MCA) got 1,882 votes and Warisan's Atan Jasin took 736 in Indera Kayangan.