GE15: Pahang Pakatan's offer to BN comes with no strings attached, says Fuziah

Wanita PKR chief Fuziah Salleh. – KK SHAM/The Star

KUANTAN: Pahang Pakatan Harapan has not made any demands in its negotiations with Barisan Nasional to form the state government, says Fuziah Salleh.

"What transpired? Pakatan just offered to work with Barisan to form the government without any conditions.

"Why? Because we fear for Pahang looking at how extreme Perikatan was in their campaign and how it can destroy racial harmony and the future of Pahang," the Pahang PKR adviser, who is also a state Pakatan council member, said when contacted here on Sunday (Nov 27).

She was asked to comment on Pahang Perikatan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah's statement questioning what "candy" Pakatan offered Barisan in their negotiations.

"Seeing how much money Perikatan spent during their campaign, I don’t think they can imagine that we are putting the state first above our own interests," said Fuziah.

Negotiations between Perikatan and Barisan appeared to have broken down with Saifuddin accusing Barisan of making unreasonable demands.

Saifuddin claimed Barisan had demanded the mentri besar position and seven executive council seats even though they were the "minority party with no mandate".

On Saturday (Nov 26), Pahang Pakatan chairman Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the coalition would support the formation of the state government with Barisan.

He said this was based on the total number of state seats won by Barisan with 16 and Pakatan with eight for a total of 24, which achieves a simple majority in the state assembly. Perikatan has 17 seats.

There are 42 seats in the Pahang Legislative Assembly but only 41 were contested in GE15 as polling for the Tioman state seat was suspended following the death of Perikatan candidate Md Yunus Ramli.

Campaigning for the Tioman state seat is underway and polling will be held on Dec 7.