ROMPIN: The Tioman state election will serve as a vital signal to chart Pahang's political direction, although its outcome on Dec 7 will not change the current Pahang government's administration structure.
Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said voters in Tioman who are upset with the recent developments must send out a clear message when casting the ballots on Dec 7.
"The Pahang government's administrative structure will not change (despite Perikatan Nasional winning in Tioman) but the results in Tioman will be an important signal on the state's political path. I met a lot of voters who are upset and they have to prove it on polling day," he told reporters after a ceramah at Kuala Rompin town which is under the Tioman state constituency here last night.
He was earlier asked if victory for PN which would see the coalition securing its 18th seat in the state could trigger any possible changes in Pahang.
Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim said the PN which currently possessed the highest number of seats in the Pahang state assembly was prepared to become an effective and constructive opposition.
"I felt that if Barisan Nasional had worked with the PN then it would be solid and stable with a two-third majority while Pakatan Harapan would be the opposition. Now, since a decision has been made, PN will remain in the opposition and we have no issues about it.
"The PN with 17 state seats wants to be a strong and active opposition in Pahang. Not simply oppose without examining the facts. The people will be watching and can evaluate the performance of our elected representatives in Pahang," he said, adding tthat PN would decide on the opposition chief in Pahang soon.
On PN's 17 seat victory in the 15th general election in Pahang compared to only eight during the previous general election in 2018, Tuan Ibrahim, who won the Cheka state seat in Pahang, described it as a wave of change especially from the young voters who wanted a stable and clean government.
"Why did they give their votes to the PN? Because they evaluated our performance when we served at the federal government and were confident without achievement. There was a wave of changes especially in youths and that is what exactly the people want," he said.
PN produced a major upset after securing 17 seats while BN won 16 seats while PH secured eight seats, and no party managed to obtain a simple majority of 21 seats to form the Pahang government, which resulted in a hung state assembly.
On Nov 28, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail was named as the menteri besar to lead a new pact between BN and PH in Pahang.