BN must win Tioman for sake of coalition, PH, says Pahang MB

Barisan Nasional (BN) has to win the Tioman state seat in the 15th general election (GE15) for the sake of the coalition’s dignity and its partner, Pakatan Harapan (PH), Pahang BN chairman Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said today.

He said BN's victory in the seat would also be significant in balancing the number of seats in the Pahang state assembly.

Based on the results of GE15, which was held on Nov 19, BN won 16 state seats in Pahang, one fewer than Perikatan Nasional (PN) which has 17 seats, while PH has eight.

"We have no choice. As of today, the situation (voter sentiment) is still 50-50, but I was informed that the graph (support for BN) is going up.

"The reason is, firstly is because we and PH are sincere about establishing a government for the sake of the stability of the state," he said in Rompin yesterday.

Wan Rosdy, who is Pahang menteri besar, also urged the party machinery to be more aggressive and to meet as many voters as possible, especially the young electors,  to ensure victory for BN in the Tioman state election.

The election for the Tioman state seat will be held on Dec 7. It was postponed due to the death of PN candidate Md Yunus Ramli, 61, on polling day.

The contest for the seat will witness a five-cornered fight among BN candidate Mohd Johari Hussain, Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly of Amanah for PH, Nor Idayu Hashim (PN), Osman A Bakar (Pejuang) and and independent Sulaiman Bakar.

However, Amanah decided that its candidate Fadzli would give way to the BN candidate to increase the latter’s chances of winning, although his name would remain on the ballot papers.