GEORGE TOWN: Barisan Nasional will remain in the Pakatan Harapan-led administration in Penang to preserve the pact underpinning the federal unity government, says Chow Kon Yeow.
The Penang Chief Minister announced this following a meeting to discuss, among other matters, Umno’s position in the state government in preparation for the next general or state election.
“Our objective is to ensure Penang remains a Pakatan stronghold and to strengthen the people’s confidence.
“We need to trigger a new wave that restores public confidence in Pakatan nationwide,” the Chief Minister said at a press conference yesterday.
He noted that the state leadership had decided to retain Umno’s Sungai Acheh assemblyman Datuk Rashidi Zinol as part of the state administration, in line with the 2023 state electoral pact.
Rashidi is the state rural development, agrotechnology, food security and entrepreneurship committee chairman.
He is also a director in the Penang Halal International and Penang Agrotech Corporation, and a board member of Yayasan Islam Pulau Pinang and Wakaf Pulau Pinang.
Also retained were Umno’s three city councillors, Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman (Penang Island City Council), Datuk Mohd Noor Ahmad and Datuk Mohd Zaidi Said (Seberang Perai City Council).
Asked if cooperation with Barisan could eventually require Pakatan to work with Perikatan Nasional in Penang, Chow said Pakatan’s 2023 electoral pact was only with Barisan.
He said Umno president and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had stated that the unity government would remain until the next general election.
“That is the official position of Pakatan and Umno.
“At the state level, there has been no statement contradicting it,” he added.
The two-hour-long Pakatan meeting comes in the wake of Barisan and Perikatan’s electoral success in the recent Negri Sembilan state election, where they won more than a two-thirds majority to form the government.
