PETALING JAYA: PKR is giving serious thought to PAS' claim that Perikatan Nasional can wrest Selangor from Pakatan Harapan in the coming state election.
State PKR deputy information chief Chua Wei Kiat said it was not dismissing the bold prediction made by Selangor PAS on Monday (Jan 16), considering the results of GE15.
ALSO READ: Perikatan has a good chance of seizing Selangor from Pakatan in state polls, says PAS
"We are aware that Perikatan, particularly the 'most perfect party' PAS, will do its utmost to sow seeds of hatred among the rakyat towards Pakatan in Selangor by playing on religion, race and other issues," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 17).
Chua, who is also Rawang assemblyman, added: "Following the results of GE15, PKR and Pakatan in Selangor have taken note that the coming battle this year will not be an easy one."
Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi said on Monday that Perikatan was confident of taking over the state administration in the coming polls owing to current sentiments.
ALSO READ: PN will make waves in coming state polls, say analysts
In GE15, Pakatan and Barisan Nasional candidates lost in six parliamentary seats in Selangor, with Barisan not winning even one seat, Dr Ahmad Yunus noted.
The then Pakatan Rakyat coalition took control of the Selangor government in 2008, with the subsequent Pakatan Harapan coalition retaining power in the 2013 and 2018 general elections.
On Saturday (Jan 14), PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said the coalition comprising Pakatan and Barisan has the potential to win 53 of the 56 state seats in the Selangor election this year.
ALSO READ: Pakatan-Barisan coalition can win 53 seats in Selangor polls, says Rafizi
The term of Selangor’s current legislative assembly is due to expire on Aug 26.
Selangor is among the six states which will hold their respective state elections later this year after opting not to hold them simultaneously during GE15 in November following the dissolution of Parliament.
The six states that will be holding polls are Perikatan-held Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, and Pakatan’s Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan.
The Kelantan state assembly’s five-year term will expire on June 9, Terengganu on Sept 1 and Kedah on Sept 4.
ALSO READ: Activate Selangor Pakatan machinery to face state polls, urges Amirudin
Penang’s state assembly term will end on Aug 2, and Negri Sembilan's on Sept 2.
Meanwhile, Chua said the rakyat in Selangor were wise and would be able to make a comparison of Pakatan's administration with the northern states under PAS before making their choice in the polls.
He said it was imperative for the Federal and state governments to work together and maintain good relations as it would bolster the confidence of the rakyat in Selangor.
