KUANTAN: Just when many thought that negotiations between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Pahang Barisan Nasional (BN) were moving in the right direction to form the Pahang government, Pakatan Harapan (PH) has dropped a bombshell.
In a statement, the coalition claimed that it is in pole position to form the next Pahang government and ongoing talks with BN has been positive.
Pahang PH secretary Rizal Jamin said state PH chairman Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shaari has met Pahang BN chairman Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail yesterday to discuss efforts to form the state government.
"The outcome of the discussions has been positive towards forming a stable and inclusive state government between BN and PH in order to ensure prosperity and a sustainable economic development of the state.
"Any further progress will be informed from time to time," said the statement which was signed by Rizal on behalf of Amiruddin.
Several hours earlier, Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had shared a picture on social media prompting speculations on whether a new Pahang state government between PN and BN has been concluded.
Tuan Ibrahim, who was appointed by PN to spearhead discussions with Wan Rosdy, wrote "Doakan kebaikan untuk Negeri Pahang, Insya-Allah.(Pray for the wellbeing of Pahang, God willing). He was accompanied by Pas vice-president Datuk Seri Idris Ahmad and several others in the picture.
It is learnt that Wan Rosdy held a series of talks with both Tuan Ibrahim and Amirudin separately over the last 48 hours in Kuala Lumpur.
In Saturday's general election, PN pulled a surprise after winning 17 seats compared to only eight in the previous general election.
BN won 16 seats while PH secured eight seats. No party obtained a simple majority of 21 seats to form the state government, resulting in a hung state assembly.
The Pahang assembly has 42 seats, but only 41 were contested in the state election that ran simultaneously with GE15, following the death of Tioman PN candidate Md Yunus Ramli on Saturday.
The election has been set for Dec 7.