KOTA BARU: As expected, Perikatan Nasional has retained control of Kelantan with official results showing that the coalition led by PAS has garnered a two-thirds majority, extending its grip on the state legislative assembly.
Perikatan candidates, who contested under the PAS logo, bagged 43 out of 45 seats. In 2018, PAS and Perikatan took 38 seats while Barisan Nasional had seven.
The two seats that went to the unity government pact comprising Barisan and Pakatan Harapan were Galas and Kota Lama.
Galas went to Umno while Pakatan managed to end PAS’ grip in Kota Lama with its candidate from Amanah, Dr Hafidzah Mustakim.
At a media conference, Kelantan Barisan chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub expressed hope that the new state government would fulfil its promises.
“This is a democratic process and we respect the results. Barisan managed to secure Galas while Pakatan won Kota Lama.
“I am thankful to all of our machinery from both Barisan and Pakatan which worked hard throughout the campaign.
“Although we accept this outcome, it doesn’t mean we are giving up. We hope the new state government will not forget its past, unfulfilled promises,” he told a press conference at the Umno building here last night.
After PAS’ resounding victory, the only doubt that remained in Kelantan is who will be the next mentri besar after incumbent Datuk Ahmad Yaakob announced that he was stepping down because of health reasons.
PAS’ victory came despite a slightly low voter turnout this time around at 62%, compared with the 67.2% during last year’s 15th General Election (GE15).
“This shows that after 33 years, the people of Kelantan are comfortable with PAS. It is still a PAS stronghold,” said political analyst Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.
“Even if PAS’ opponents are able to come up with a better manifesto that can benefit the people of Kelantan, they still chose PAS,” he added.
