MARANG: PAS remains confident it can take over the Federal Government despite failing to capture Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan.
This is because the Islamist party, which is part of the Perikatan Nasional coalition, sees the gains made in the six state polls as a reflection of what voters think of the current Pakatan-Barisan government, said Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
The PAS president had repeatedly said during campaigning for the six states that if Perikatan managed to capture Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang, it would empower the coalition to get the support it needs to oust Pakatan and Barisan, which form the unity government.
Even without control of those three states, which were won by the unity pact, Abdul Hadi said he still believed Perikataan could take over Putrajaya going by the support it has received in those states.
"Even though we did not win in those states, we had a boost in support that can lead to change while Pakatan's support has declined," told reporters at Dewan Tok Guru in Rusila, here after a Terengganu Perikatan victory rally.
"The voter turnout rate also declined, which shows that there is a protest vote against Pakatan," he said.
Perikatan managed to retain their hold over Terengganu, Kelantan and Kedah by increasing the number of seats it won in 2018.
Even in states they failed to capture, Perikatan improved its standing by winning 20 out of 56 seats in Selangor, 12 out of 20 in Penang and six out of 30 in Negri Sembilan.
Perikatan dominated in Kelantan and Kedah by winning 43 out 45 seats and 33 out 36 seats respectively.
It made a sweep of all 32 seats in Terengganu.
Out of the 245 state seats contested, Perikatan managed to win 146 while Pakatan won 99.
