KLANG: With just one or two seats left for finalisation, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said, the seat allocation between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional is expected to conclude after Hari Raya Aidilada (June 29).
The Selangor Pakatan Harapan chairman and caretaker Mentri Besar said candidates would be selected based on winnability.
“We want to win the elections, of course we will put a winnable candidate and of course we are coming in as an incumbent with a track record of Pakatan Harapan administration in the state spanning 15 years,” he said hoping that the people’s support will be with the coalition.
“Now we also have our friends from Barisan Nasional with experience in administration. I think this is a good combination especially to ensure stability through this term to spur economic recovery,” he told reporters after the Jelajah Arus Merah Kuning ceramah for the Sungai Kandis seat in Tapak Rakan Muda Sri Andalas here on Sunday night (June 25).
He also added that candidates have yet to be decided and parties are still collecting the names of prospective candidates.
He also dismissed speculation that there was a clash between Pakatan and Umno for the Gombak Setia seat.
“That is not true. Each (parties) are discussing and there are no clashes. In any case, we will go in with a policy of unity and avoid clashes and we will face Perikatan Nasional,” he said.
On whether the seat distributions between Barisan and Pakatan will be “fair”, he said this will be down to the winnability factor.
“In Kelantan, Barisan got more seats and we got a smaller number. The same goes for Terengganu. The basis will be winnability,” he said adding that factors such as machinery, voter base and campaign will be factored in.
On rumours that Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, who is Kota Raja Umno chief may be a candidate for the Sungai Kandis seat which is currently held by PKR, Amirudin said that would depend on Umno.
“That depends on Umno, not me. I cannot represent Tengku Zafrul what more the Umno president,” he said.
He added that speculations on seats are just rumours at this juncture as negotiations are still ongoing.
Amirudin, however, said the negotiations are progressing on a positive note with only one or two seats left for finalisation after a two-month negotiation process.
On whether former Damansara MP Tony Pua’s corrupt remarks against Barisan Nasional had any impact on the ties between Barisan and Pakatan, Amirudin said all is well so far.
He also added that a Barisan representative attended the Selangor Pakatan machinery launch in Shah Alam on Saturday. Additionally, he said Tengku Zafrul who is Selangor Barisan treasurer and Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam had attended Pakatan’s Jelajah Merah Kuning ceramah for the Sungai Kandis seat last night.
Calling it a good gesture, Amirudin also said that Pakatan and Barisan had also launched their machinery together in Sungai Besar last week.
“In Selangor, we are building confidence. We are still new (to each other). It has only been six to seven months. We are trying to find compatibility,” he said.
Previously, speculations were rife that Tengku Zafrul could be Barisan’s candidate for the Sungai Kandis state seat before his name was bandied around for the Kuang seat.
– The Star