PEKAN: Negotiations between Barisan Nasional along with other political coalitions in Pahang were carried out based on three main aspects which had paved the way to form the BN-Pakatan Harapan unity state government.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the three items considered by Pahang BN included efforts to ensure stability of the state government and looking after the wellbeing of the people.
"Firstly, cooperation between the political blocs as a new approach that has to be seen as a choice thus paving the way to openly cooperate with any bloc either PH or Perikatan Nasional (PN) for the sake of the people.
"Secondly, BN Pahang found that any choice of cooperation must be done by taking into account the ability of the coalitions to bring stability to the state government and the well-being of the people.
"The combination of the state government must reflect the diversity which has been the strength of Pahang," he told reporters during a press conference at the Pekan district and land office here after being sworn in as menteri besar at Istana Abu Bakar earlier today.
Thirdly, he said, BN Pahang believes that the formation of the new state government has to be in line with the unity government at the Federal level.
He said this was to ensure the administration and all plans made to develop the state can continue and progress smoothly.
Wan Rosdy said based on the consideration and scenario which had been scrutinised in detail, BN and PH finally reached an agreement to jointly form the Pahang government.
"I have been elected to be Menteri Besar through this new collaboration, and a new state executive council line up comprising elected representatives from BN and PH will be formed soon.
"I would like to emphasise that the Pahang government represents and serves everyone.
"I will ensure all political sentiments and ideology differences are put aside, and the priority now is the stability and prosperity of Pahang," he said.
Wan Rosdy added that the state government would ensure the 2023 Budget, which was approved during the state assembly sitting last term will be executed.
The Pahang government's focus, he said, was to steer the state's economic growth toward a better and positive direction.
Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy said he hoped that the PN bloc would be an opposition that remained firm, objective and capable of carrying out the necessary check and balance in Pahang.
In GE15, BN only secured 16 seats in the state, while PN won 17. PH has eight seats. No party obtained a simple majority of 21 seats to form the state government, resulting in a hung state assembly.
Since last week, BN has been in a series of talks with both PN and PH representatives separately in Kuala Lumpur with both PN and PH issuing statements separately claiming they have been in discussions with BN.
Yesterday, the Comptroller of the Royal Household for the Sultan of Pahang, Datuk Ahmad Khirrizal Ab Rahman said the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah consented to the formation of a coalition government between BN and PH, and named Wan Rosdy to lead the new government.