PUTRAJAYA: “Insider information” has revealed that some Perikatan Nasional assemblymen in Pahang are hoping to join the Barisan Nasional-led state government, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Without mentioning any names, the Barisan chairman said he heard the talk through the political grapevine, adding that the current Pahang state administration is strong and solid.
The Deputy Prime Minister was responding to a recent claim made by Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who said four Barisan assemblymen are planning to join Perikatan if the latter wins the ongoing Pelangai by-election.
“Although that (Muhyiddin’s claim) was just propaganda, we also have insider information that it is actually them (the assemblymen) who want to be with us (in the Pahang state government),” Ahmad Zahid said during a press conference here on Thursday (Oct 5).
The Umno president said given the current composition of the Barisan-Pakatan state seats in the Pahang legislative assembly, a change of government is not possible.
“We (Barisan) have 16 assemblymen there (in Pahang) and we will defend our victory in Pelangai. At the same time, we have eight assemblymen from Pakatan Harapan.
“This shows that we have more than enough (seats) to form the state government.
“The best they can do is to play up this propaganda to make it look like it was us who wanted to go there (to Perikatan’s side) when actually, it is they who want to be part of the state government.
“We hope that the four assemblymen (who plan to defect) will come from their (Perikatan’s) side,” Ahmad Zahid said.
Following Muhyiddin’s claim, Pahang Mentri Besar and state Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail assured that all Barisan assemblymen will not leave the coalition.
Wan Rosdy described Muhyiddin’s allegation as a slander aimed at creating confusion and instilling fear in the minds of Pelangai voters.
Without counting the Pelangai constituency, Barisan currently has 16 assemblymen, Pakatan has eight and Perikatan has 17 in the Pahang state legislative assembly.
At the moment, Pahang has yet to gazette its anti-hopping law, which has been in operation at the federal level since Oct 5 last year.
