NEGRI Sembilan Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu claimed that Perikatan Nasional (PN) is content to be the underdog in the Negri Sembilan elections on Aug 12.
The former Tambun MP stated that Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders can make whatever statements they like but they should also prepare for a surprise outcome.
“A lot has been said by our rivals that they will retain Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Penang and also do well in the Perikatan-held states,” Faizal was quoted as saying by The Star today (July 5).
The former Perak Menteri Besar (MB) implied that he would not have been sent to Negri Sembilan if PN was not confident of wresting control of the state from PH and that PN’s opponents were free to say that support for the alliance was dwindling.
“But can I know what is the basis for such claims? On the other hand, it is an open secret that UMNO members are not happy with the party working with the DAP and vice versa.
“Also, things are not as rosy as it seems between PH and BN and this can be seen during recent talks on seat distribution.
“So the obvious alternative here is PN,” he said.
At the same time, the former youth and sports minister refuted claims that the PH and BN had the upper hand in the state, noting that the DAP is highly anticipated to win all 11 seats the party is set to contest.
Even if the DAP wins these 11 seats, there are 25 more up for grabs.
“We have strategies which I am not at liberty to divulge. We must remember there is no such thing as ‘fixed deposit’ seats these days,” he said.
The former Chenderiang assemblyman claimed that cooperation between PH and BN in Negri Sembilan was also not workable due to UMNO had its eye on the MB post.
He also noted that while caretaker Negri Sembilan MB Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun was eager to serve another term, a senior UMNO leader was also said to be interested.
The Negri Sembilan state assembly was dissolved on July 1 paving the way for the upcoming state elections with the nomination date set on July 29, early voting date on August 8 and the election day on August 12 which was announced by the Election Committee today (July 5). – July 5, 2023
Main pic credit: Facebook/Faizal Azumu
