Kelantan 'obsessed with one party', says Zahid on BN-PH chances

Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today described Kelantan as "obsessed with one party", as election-facing states swung into action with the nomination of candidates ahead of the Aug 12 polls. 

Zahid, the Umno president, said in a press conference at the Kelantan Umno headquarters in Kota Bharu that Terengganu and Kedah were "swing states" that had changed hands between BN and PAS several times before. 

He also voiced optimism that the BN-Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance could capture these two states, which are currently under PAS rule. 

"Terengganu was under BN rule for a long time before it was taken over by PAS.

"Insha Allah it will return to BN, and Kedah too… they are swing states which have changed hands between BN and PAS," he was reported as saying by Bernama. 

However, he said Kelantan was different as it was "not a swing state". 

"The state is obsessed with one party," he was quoted as saying. 

"The people of Kelantan should realise that they have been deceived for so long. Try giving your trust and vote to candidates from the Madani government and see the change we can bring to Kelantan," he said.

He added that BN-PH was confident of retaining power in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang. 

Kelantan has been under PAS rule since 1990, with every attempt by previous BN governments failing to wrest the state.

This time, BN is joining forces with PH to capture the state, although a current swing of Malay support nationwide points to the likelihood of another failure to boot out PAS, a major partner of Perikatan Nasional.