KUALA PILAH: Pakatan Harapan aims to retain Negri Sembilan with a comfortable majority in Saturday’s (Aug 1) election, targeting 21 or 22 state seats despite challenges posed by the changing political landscape and new alliances.
Its election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said, however, that the coalition would continue to offer solutions based on unity and the Malaysia Madani concept rather than divisive rhetoric.
He said Pakatan remained confident of securing the 19 seats needed to form the state government, while hoping to improve on that tally based on voters’ assessment of its track record since taking power in 2018.
"Our minimum target is 19 seats, but if the momentum is stronger, we believe we can win 21 or 22. That is our best-case projection," he told reporters after a programme at Dataran Melang in Kampung Gemelang, Kuala Pilah, on Thursday (July 30) night.
He said Pakatan was counting on voters to judge its performance over the past two terms under Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, adding that campaigning would continue until midnight Friday (July 31).
He noted that Pakatan won 20 seats in 2018 and its cooperation with Barisan Nasional delivered a combined 31 seats in 2023.
"This time, the challenge is different because the electoral landscape and political alignments have changed.
"We recognise those challenges and are working to secure a comfortable number of seats to continue forming the state government," he said.
On claims of a "blue wave" after the Johor state election spreading to Negri Sembilan, Amirudin dismissed the suggestion as a narrative being promoted by Barisan.
"That is certainly the narrative it is trying to create. Here, however, we have our own leadership history and the strength of the MB.
"We have previously withstood and absorbed the 'green wave' in both Selangor and Negri Sembilan.
"This election presents a new dynamic, and we will continue offering solutions based on the Malaysia Madani concept and national unity, rather than rhetoric that divides people along racial lines," he said.
