NewzPAS president Abdul Hadi Awang admitted that the political situation in Negeri Sembilan is more challenging than in Johor.SEREMBAN: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said Perikatan Nasional (PN) deliberately allowed Umno to take the lead in the Johor election, with the Islamic party and its allies playing a supporting role.He said the approach was adopted after PN assessed the political landscape and sought to avoid splitting the anti-Pakatan Harapan (PH) vote with BN."Although Umno had a huge majority in Johor, winning 40 out of 56 seats (in the 2022 state election), when I looked at the PH line-up of candidates, they were all prominent figures."We were worried that Johor would fall (to PH) and Umno could lose control of the state government."So we took the necessary step to save Johor," he said during a ceramah here last night.Commenting on the state election in Negeri Sembilan, Hadi admitted that the political situation there was more challenging than in Johor.He said he previously saw an opportunity to change the state government through a vote of confidence in the Negeri Sembilan legislative assembly, but the effort failed after two Bersatu assemblymen withdrew."Negeri Sembilan is more critical than Johor. We planned to table a vote of confidence in the state assembly, where 14 Umno assemblymen joining forces with five from PN – three from PAS and two from Bersatu – could have changed the government."Unfortunately, the two Bersatu assemblymen pulled out, so it failed."He urged young voters to support PN at the ballot box on Aug 1."We hope young voters will support this coalition because our struggle is not just for today, but for the future."BN is contesting 25 seats under an electoral understanding with PAS-led PN, which is contesting the remaining 11 seats. Bersatu, although still a PN component party, is fielding candidates separately in 24 seats under its own logo.Last week, Hadi dismissed claims that the cooperation between BN and PN was just political theatrics.
PETALING JAYA: Come Saturday, when Negeri Sembilan goes to the polls, will the tide turn for Pakatan Harapan (PH) or will Barisan Nasional (BN) build on the momentum from its landslide win in Johor?For better or worse, the contest is a battle between PH and BN with Perikatan Nasional (PN) by its side.PH is vying for all 36 seats while BN is gunning for 25, leaving the remaining 11 to its partner PN.Bersatu, despite remaining in PN, is contesting 24 seats under its own logo after breaking ranks with PAS but, by most accounts, it is unlikely to make an impact.Smaller parties such as Muda, Pejuang and Parti Bersama Malaysia have wisely opted to stay at the ringside while the big boys fight it out.Most pundits have placed their bets on another BN victory, but not every seat is a sure thing for either side.FMT asked political analysts Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara, Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya to assess seven of the election’s key battlegrounds, and these are their takes on the election.LinggiMenteri besar Aminuddin Harun has opted to leave Sikamat, a seat he held for 18 years, to contest in Linggi, an Umno bastion. Linggi has been in BN’s hands since 1978.The seat is one of five in his Port Dickson parliamentary constituency, making it a direct test of his personal appeal beyond his traditional stronghold.Aminuddin will face incumbent Faizal Ramli of BN, who served alongside him in the Negeri Sembilan executive council as heritage, technology, innovation and digital committee chairman, as well as Bersatu’s Zamri Said, who lost in the constituency in 2023.Analysts’ verdict:Azmi: PHMazlan and Awang: BNChennahDAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook is seeking a fourth consecutive term in Chennah, one of the party's safest seats and one he has held since 2013.He won the seat by a 2,200-vote majority in the 2023 state election, but previous contests had been much closer. Loke defeated BN-MCA by 1,155 votes in 2018 in a three-cornered fight that included PAS, and by 1,098 votes in 2013 in a straight fight.While PH remains the favourite, the mixed constituency will be closely watched as shifts in Malay, Chinese and Orang Asli sentiments could determine the size of Loke’s majority.Loke will face Negeri Sembilan MCA Youth chief Siow Kong Chun.Analysts’ verdict:PHSikamatAminuddin’s political secretary Nor Azman Moh…
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