FOLLOWING informal conversations between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH), Terengganu UMNO information chief Datuk Nik Dir Nik Wan Ku has revealed that PH was aiming for 12 out of 32 seats in the forthcoming state election.
Nik Dir was responding to a May 7 Utusan Malaysia article that said Terengganu UMNO division chiefs were opposed to an electoral partnership with PH, and Nik Dir stated that such problems never existed.
“There is no official decision on seat distribution yet. It was just an informal discussion between BN and PH in the state. That’s when we asked Harapan how many seats they wanted. They mentioned 12 seats and named their candidates,” he said, according to The Malaysian Insight.
According to Utusan Malaysia, PH has expressed interest in capturing Cukai, Kemasik, Sura, Rantau Abang, Rhu Rendang, Alor Limbat, Bandar, Batu Buruk, Manir, Buluh Gading, Kota Putera, and Jabi, all of which are now held by PAS.
According to Nik Dir, Terengganu UMNO chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Said forewarned the PH delegation that some of the latter’s candidates would lose their deposits.
“That’s all that happened. We never said we wanted to protest because there is no final decision yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad who is also a Kijal state assemblyman stated that UMNO has no problem working with PH to take on Perikatan Nasional (PN) in Terengganu because both parties were already cooperating at the federal level and that this will continue for the sake of national stability.
“Politics is dynamic, not static. That’s why people say there are no permanent enemies or friends in politics,” he told reporters at the Ketengah Aidilfitri open house in Dungun, Terengganu yesterday (May 8), according to Bernama.
According to Ahmad Terengganu UMNO and PH are working on seat distribution for the state elections but have yet to reach a final decision.
PH suffered a catastrophic loss in Terengganu during the General Election (GE15) last year, with all eight candidates losing their deposits.
BN emerged as the clear second choice, garnering 32% of the popular vote – roughly half of PN’s staggering 62%, allowing them to sweep all eight parliamentary seats. – May 9, 2023
