REMBAU: Barisan Nasional was offered positions in the Negri Sembilan state exco after the formation of the unity government but declined the offer, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Rantau incumbent said that Barisan opted to go through the state elections instead.
"It was too short of a time to make changes to the state government then. We decided to just wait for this election to run its course.
"However, we were invited by Pakatan Harapan Negri Sembilan to join them and we were offered two exco posts," he said when met after a ceramah in Kuala Sawah on Sunday (Aug 6).
When asked about his health condition, Mohamad said that he has just recovered enough to resume campaigning.
"As I was ill, I was only able to go to the ground for half the day today. It was a bad flu but I was able to resume my campaigning today in Rantau," he said.
The Defence Minister was previously forced to miss several days of campaigning after being told by his doctor to rest at home after falling ill with what was then thought to be influenza.
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His election machinery was campaigning in his stead during his three-day absence.
In his speech earlier he said that Vietnam, a country that had at one point been a war-torn country, had now overtaken Malaysia due to its stable government.
"With stability ensured, investors came with billions to invest in Vietnam. At one point, Malaysia was the focus of investors but not anymore.
"But God willing after the last general election, with the formation of the unity government, all parties have agreed to forget all problems and politics to move forward.
"The government of the day reflects the various races in the country. To me, that is the best formula to lead a multiracial Malaysia," he said.