BUKIT MERTAJAM – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Pakatan Harapan (PH) has yet to officially hold talks with Barisan Nasional (BN) on the distribution of seats to be contested by both parties during the coming six state elections.
However, Anwar who is also PH chairman said there are no restrictions on his coalition’s state leaders holding talks with BN state leaders on the matter.
“Discussions on the distribution of seats with BN has not been done officially although I have not stopped any party leaders at the state level to have discussions, but there have been no official discussions yet,” he told reporters after attending a public feast in Cherok Tok Kun, here tonight.
The prime minister was asked if PH and BN had discussed the distribution of seats for the state polls in six states, namely Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu, and Kelantan.
On Saturday, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli was reported as saying that PH had unofficially started discussions with BN on collaboration between both coalitions for the coming state elections.
Meanwhile, Anwar said he would not interfere in the affairs of PAS since the party had declared that it would decide the dates to dissolve the assemblies of three states under its rule, namely Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan.
“It is their (PAS) prerogative and they can deal with the Election Commission, it is not my business, just that when the state elections are not simultaneously held, the cost will increase.
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang was reported as saying the party would decide on a suitable date to dissolve the Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan assemblies. – Bernama, January 24, 2023
