Zahid: State polls seat negotiations cannot be rushed

BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today stressed that the process to negotiate seat allocations among parties that support the government cannot be rushed.

This, he said, is because any decision they make must be based not only on equality but also on the winnability of each candidate.

“The matter of allocating seats is not only about being equal, it is also about winnability. So, what the parties in this government are doing now is having a discussion between BN and Pakatan Harapan first.

“When discussions at the state level are finalised, then only they are taken to the national level, where the chairpersons of BN and Harapan will make the final call.

“So, we are not going to make any decision in haste, because this is not only about winning but also whether voters can accept and the likeability of each candidate,” Zahid (above) told reporters after attending a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house hosted by Pahang Umno in Lipis, Pahang.

Also present was Umno vice-president Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who is also the Pahang menteri besar.

Zahid was asked to comment on the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition coalition seemingly having a smoother seat negotiation process compared to government parties.

Yesterday, PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad reportedly said that PN component parties have reached 50 percent in their seat negotiation process for elections in six states.

Idris said that PAS was still negotiating with their allies in PN and no final decision has been reached at the national party leadership level yet.

Meanwhile, Zahid said the government still has time to work on and finalise discussions.

“We have until this July or August before we face the elections.

“This (negotiation) has to be carried out thoroughly to make sure there is no clash or any issue should a candidate fail to deliver in the state elections,” he added.

He also reminded all government parties not to take lightly the challenge they are facing in the state elections, especially in Selangor.

“Do not ever take this lightly, not only in Selangor but all the six states. But we have full confidence that the combination of government parties will be able to mobilise our election machinery in unison to deliver our message to the voters, and God willing, their votes will be for us,” he said.

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