ALOR SETAR: Barisan Nasional will finalise its candidates first before deciding on the seats for its allies such as Friends of BN, says Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (pic).
“Barisan has four component parties and we have to complete the seat allocation for the component parties first, which is in the process of finalisation, after which we will decide on the status for the Friends of BN,” he said at a press conference after the 13th convocation ceremony of the Community Development Department here yesterday.
“The decision on the seats for Friends of BN on whether it is in Parliament and the state legislative assembly will be decided by the Barisan chairman,” said Mahdzir, who is the former Padang Terap MP.
Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid had previously said that candidates from the allied parties will also be considered due to their contributions in helping Barisan win in by-elections and state polls.
Commenting on Kedah Pakatan Harapan’s chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar’s statement that the Opposition is vying to win all 15 seats in the state, he said every party should think rationally and set a target.
“I know Mahfuz personally, and if there are 16 parliamentary seats, he will say they will (win all) 16. Luckily there are only 15 (seats) in Kedah, and luckily he didn’t go to the extent of saying 16,” he said.
Mahfuz said Pakatan is confident that it could secure a two-thirds majority in the state.