KUANTAN: After a week of guessing games, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail has been named the menteri besar to lead a new pact between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in Pahang.
Comptroller of the Royal Household for the Sultan of Pahang, Datuk Ahmad Khirrizal Ab Rahman, said following the outcome of the 15th General Election (GE15), the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah, had granted an audience and listened to all suggestions, motions and wishes from the political party leaders.
"The Regent has approved the formation of the Pahang government by Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.
"Based on the powers provided to the Ruler in accordance with Part Two, Article 3(1) of the Pahang Constitution, the Regent has agreed to appoint Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail as the Pahang menteri besar," read the statement.
Datuk Ahmad Khirrizal said the presentation of the appointment letter and swearing in ceremony of the Menteri Besar will be held at the Balairung Seri Istana Abu Bakar in Pekan at 11am tomorrow.
The oath taking ceremony tomorrow puts an end to the uncertainty surrounding the new state government as Pahang remained as the only state yet to form a government after the GE15, after ending up with a hung state assembly for the first time.
BN only secured 16 seats in the state, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) won 17. PH has eight seats.
BN has been in a series of talks with both PN and PH representatives separately in Kuala Lumpur over the past few days with both PN and PH issuing statements separately claiming they have been in discussions with BN but did not provide any details or the progress of the talks.
Yesterday, Pahang PH chairman Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari after chairing a state meeting in Shah Alam said PH had unanimously agreed to officially support the formation of the Pahang government with BN fueling speculations of a possible pact.
Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was today reported saying PN is prepared to offer BN the posts of menteri besar but BN has to meet certain conditions in accordance with PN's strength which secured 17 state seats in GE15.
Jelai assemblyman Wan Rosdy was named the 14th Pahang menteri besar after the general election in 2018 replacing former Pelangai assemblyman Tan Sri Adnan Yaakob who had served as the Pahang Menteri Besar since May 25, 1999.
In GE15, Wan Rosdy retained the Jelai state seat for a fifth term with a 6,983 majority.