[UPDATED] S’gor, Negri will get Bersatu MB if Perikatan wins: Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) has reached a consensus to appoint a menteri besar from Bersatu should the coalition wrest power of Selangor and Negri Sembilan in the coming state elections. 

This is according to Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who said the decision was made following recent negotiations with component parties within PN. 

“Don’t ask me who will be the menteri besar (in Selangor and Negri Sembilan), but it has been agreed (that they will be from Bersatu),” he said in his winding-up speech at Bersatu’s annual general assembly, here, this evening. 

The two states are currently under Pakatan Harapan’s rule, with both menteri besar from PKR – Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari in Selangor and Aminuddin Harun in Negri Sembilan. 

In the case of Penang, Muhyiddin said a decision over who will lead as the chief minister – should PN secure a victory there – will be based on which party has the most seats.

As for Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, which are all currently under PAS’ administration, Muhyiddin said this will remain status quo. 

“Based on our observation, God-willing, PAS and PN will sweep clean (these three states)," he said. 

Muhyiddin, who is PN chairman, said coalition leaders have also decided on the composition of the leadership lineup of each respective state to be won by the coalition.

However, he stopped short of providing further details. 

“When we form the government, we will already know our position and the percentage of executive councillor members to be appointed from each PN party, among other things.”

Commenting on PN’s battle in Selangor, which will be the coalition’s main focus, Muhyiddin said the responsibility to wrest the state from PH’s hands will fall on three key leaders: Bersatu vice-president Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, state liaison chief Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, and state PN head Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali. 

He added that based on Azmin’s projection, PN is expected to spring a surprise in Selangor in the state polls. 

“Azmin, I will hold on to your words. If we don’t win, you watch out. But God-willing (we will win).

“I’m not being arrogant, but we must show our commitment that this is a possibility, based on the unity and solidarity that we have and the support shown by the rakyat.”

Later in a press conference, when asked to elaborate on his statement on capturing Selangor, Muhyiddin said PN has the necessary data to back his claim but said he would not share this. 

“We know what we have to do, but we won’t take things for granted,” he said. – The Vibes, March 12, 2023