BENTONG: A victory for Perikatan Nasional in the Pelangai by-election will be an added pressure for the ruling government in Pahang due to a more dominant Opposition, says Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
“Although the ruling government will remain, we can imagine that the Opposition will have 18 seats (if it wins Pelangai) while the ruling party (Barisan Nasional) will only have 16 seats. This will put huge pressure on the government,” he said when met by reporters at the nomination centre at Dewan Orang Ramai Felda Kemasul.
“In terms of democracy, the Opposition will exceed the voice of the ruling party. Without Pakatan Harapan, they will not be able to continue the state agenda,” said the PAS deputy president.
The government bloc has 24 seats in the Pahang state assembly, of which 16 belong to Barisan. Perikatan has 17 seats.
On a former Umno member Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli contesting as an independent, Tuan Ibrahim said this reflects the disappointment of the party’s members with Barisan.
However, he hoped voters in Pelangai would not waste their votes and would choose a party which is more stable and fulfils the aspirations of locals.
The Pelangai seat will see a three-cornered fight between Haslihelmy, Bentong Barisan’s Datuk Amizar Abu Adam, and Perikatan’s Kasim Samat or Cikgu Kasim.
The seat fell vacant after Barisan’s Datuk Seri Johari Harun’s death in August.
Johari was killed in a plane crash in Bandar Elmina, Shah Alam, on Aug 17, leaving his seat vacant, thus triggering a by-election.
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