ALOR SETAR: Stop behaving like a “big brother” in determining seat distribution if Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional choose to work together during the Kedah state election this year, the coalitions were told.
Kedah Pakatan chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar said both coalitions under the unity government must accept the fact that no party could fully control the Kedah Legislative Assembly seats.
"I believe everyone should be open to the fact that we have to reduce the number of seats (to be contested by each coalition)...which means we have to accept the fact that we can no longer compete like a 'big brother' to control the seats fully.
"So, there should be seat distribution and we in Pakatan have already gone through that process and we will implement this (with Barisan)," he told reporters today (Jan 27).
He was asked to comment whether Pakatan had negotiated with Kedah Barisan regarding their cooperation in facing the state election.
Mahfuz admitted that he had met with Kedah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and other Barisan leaders over the matter, however, no official discussion had been held between the two coalitions.
He said he hoped that official talks with Barisan could be held as the Pakatan central leadership had given state party leaders the greenlight to hold negotiations to prepare for the state polls.
Asked if the national leadership has set any guidelines for the negotiations to be carried out, Mahfuz said that Pakatan state leaders would have to use their wisdom depending on the state’s political situation.
The state elections will be held in Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu and Kelantan. - Bernama
