KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) had offered Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail a cabinet post if it formed the federal government, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said.
In a video posted to PN’s Facebook page, he said PN gave Wan Rosdy the choice of a federal post by way of a senatorship, or to remain at the state level as the menteri besar.
“In our first meeting, we said that if we formed the federal government, our offer to him is to be a full minister at the federal level by making him a senator. Or if he wants to stay in Pahang, we will retain him as menteri besar.
“We also said the Pahang exco line-up would be split 50-50 between PN and Barisan Nasional, while the assembly speaker post would be given to PN and the deputy speaker to BN.
“The deputy menteri besar post would also be given to PN,” Tuan Ibrahim said in the video.
The PAS leader said he was explaining what went on behind the scenes in PN’s attempts to form the Pahang government with BN. Of the state’s 42 seats, PN won 17, BN 16 and Pakatan Harapan 8.
Wan Rosdy was sworn in as menteri besar yesterday, after rejecting PN’s offer and forming the state government with PH instead.
Tuan Ibrahim also said that of the five appointed exco posts from among elected assemblymen, PN wanted three while BN would be given two.
“We felt this was fair as we are the coalition that won the most seats.”
Tuan Ibrahim said PN held talks with Wan Rosdy twice, including the third time with the Pahang regent, who asked the two coalitions to discuss a unity government comprising PN, BN and PH.
“In our final discussion, Wan Rosdy informed us that PN will be given only one exco seat (in a unity government).
“We rejected this, as we won 17 seats, and felt this was very unfair. We rejected and decided to stay in the opposition.”
Wan Rosdy, who is Jelai assemblyman, was the state’s previous menteri besar under BN before GE15. He retained the Jelai seat for a fifth term with a majority of 6,983 votes.
He took his oath of office yesterday before the Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Balairung Seri Istana Abu Bakar in Pekan, Pahang.
One more seat in Pahang – Tioman – will hold its election on December 7 following the death of a candidate on the GE15 polling day on November 19.
However, regardless of the seat’s election result, none of the three main coalitions will have a simple majority to form a state government on its own. – The Vibes, November 30, 2022
