KUANTAN: Even though Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reported for work as Prime Minister, the next Pahang state government is still in limbo without any of the coalitions officially entering into a pact yet.
It was understood that Pahang Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail (pic) had met separately with state Pakatan Harapan chief Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who represented the state Perikatan Nasional.
However, other than Amirudin’s revelation that the eight Pahang Pakatan assemblymen had signed statutory declarations (SDs) pledging support for Wan Rosdy as mentri besar, all parties were mum on what had been discussed during their negotiations.
A source from within Pahang Pakatan said the SDs were handed in on Thursday and were addressed to the Sultan of Pahang as well as the Regent of Pahang.
The source said this was an en bloc support for Wan Rosdy and similar in form to Barisan’s support for the unity government led by Pakatan at the federal level.
Should Pahang Barisan choose to join forces with Pakatan, this would put their total number of seats at 24, giving them a simple majority to form the state government.
Perikatan secured 17 seats in the 15th General Election, making the coalition the largest bloc in the 42-seat Pahang state assembly currently.
The state seat of Tioman has yet to be decided as the election will only take place on Dec 7.
Pahang MIC chairman V. Arumugam said Wan Rosdy had consulted all Barisan assemblymen on Wednesday to get their feedback.
“But that was before Anwar was appointed Prime Minister. I do not know what the direction is now,” he said when asked which side Barisan was more inclined towards.
Arumugam, who is the newly elected Sabai assemblyman, said he would leave it to Wan Rosdy to decide.
Wan Rosdy, when met at the nomination process for the Tioman election on Thursday, merely said the formation of the state government was “in the process”.
In a short statement yesterday, Wan Rosdy congratulated Anwar on his appointment as Prime Minister and also commended the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his wisdom in solving the political impasse.
