Photo: Bernama
ALOR SETAR: Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional could win a minimum of 19 seats in the 36-seat Kedah state assembly, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The PKR secretary-general said the two state seats in Langkawi - Ayer Hangat and Kuah - have the potential to contribute to the 19 state seats they expect to win.
A minimum of 19 seats is needed for a simple majority, while to form a two-third majority, the coalition needs to win 26 seats in Kedah.
He said that reports from the ground show that the unity partnership can achieve a simple majority by grabbing Kuah and Ayer Hangat.
Saifuddin said this during a walkabout session with Pakatan Kubang Rotan candidate Asmirul Anuar Aris at Pasar Besar here on Monday (Aug 5).
In the 14th General Election (GE14), both seats were won by Bersatu, which is part of the Perikatan coalition.
Saifuddin said before this, Perikatan had greater influence in Ayer Hangat and Kuah but now, all indicators show a positive support towards the unity pact.
With the positive change, he said all eyes are now on this popular tourism island.
He said a grand-finale would be held in Kedah on the eve of the state polls (Aug 11) and the Prime Minister had agreed to attend.
The state Pakatan and Barisan leaderships would discuss Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s schedule during the event as a final push for votes.
In GE14, PAS captured 15 seats in Kedah, followed by PKR (eight), Bersatu (five), Umno (three), Amanah (three) and DAP (two).
Meanwhile, he added that caretaker Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is now trying to gain sympathy votes with a new narrative that he could be arrested at any time.
He said that over the last 48 hours, the normally gung-ho Muhammad Sanusi had slowed down.
"I believe it's an excuse. This country has free and fair election laws. (Everyone is given) the opportunity to engage with many voters," he said.
On Sunday (Aug 6), Alor Setar MP Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said in a rally at Taman Ria Sungai Petani, that the state Perikatan chairman had been advised to not attend the event due to “security reasons”.
Afnan reportedly said Muhammad Sanusi was advised so due to a 'trap' being setup for him to be caught.
