Nod for BN-PH Pahang govt

Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail (left).

KUANTAN: A new Pahang government will be formed by Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan – the second such political union at the state level following the 15th General Election.

Last week, Perak saw the formation of a unity government between Barisan and Pakatan with state Umno chief Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad returning to helm the administration.

Yesterday, Comptroller of the Pahang Sultan’s Household Datuk Ahmad Khirrizal Ab Rahman said the Regent of Pahang Tengku Mahkota Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah had audiences with the leadership of the political parties involved and listened to their suggestions, proposals and wishes following GE15.

“The Regent of Pahang has thus consented to the formation of the Pahang state government by Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan,” said Ahmad Khirrizal in a statement.

He added that Tengku Hassanal also consented to appoint Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail as the Pahang Mentri Besar.

The swearing-in ceremony would be held at 11am today at Istana Abu Bakar in Pekan, said Ahmad Khirrizal.

Earlier yesterday, Pahang Perikatan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah accused Barisan of making unreasonable demands, revealing a breakdown in negotiations to form the state government.

Saifuddin, who is the Indera Mahkota MP, said Barisan had made big demands, even though they were the “minority party with no mandate”.

“The party that has received the largest mandate from the people of Pahang is Perikatan. That is the will of the people that needs to be respected.

“From the beginning, Perikatan was ready to negotiate the formation of the Pahang government but not with Pakatan that brought an agenda against the interests of the people.

“But Barisan demanded the position of Mentri Besar and wanted seven executive council seats and only agreed to give Perikatan one exco seat even though they are a minority party with no mandate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pahang Pakatan council member and state PKR adviser Fuziah Salleh revealed that Pakatan did not attach any conditions in its negotiations with Barisan.

“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 its campaign and how it can destroy racial harmony and the future of Pahang,” she said.

She also slammed Saifuddin’s “lowly comments”, saying that Perikatan could not imagine that Pakatan would put the state first, seeing how much money was spent by Perikatan during the election campaign.

On Saturday, Pahang Pakatan chairman Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who is also Selangor Mentri Besar, said the coalition would support the formation of the state government with Barisan.

He said this was based on the total number of seats won by Barisan at 16 and Pakatan at eight, which had exceeded the simple majority.

Perikatan currently holds the largest number of seats in the state assembly at 17 seats.

Campaigning for the Tioman state seat is underway with the election to be held on Dec 7.