Politics

GE15: Don't spin the story, Saifuddin tells Pahang MB

PADANG SERAI: Pahang Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah reminded Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail not to twist facts over talks on the state government's formation after the 15th General Election (GE15).

Saifuddin claimed PN had been very accommodative towards Wan Rosdy and BN during the three rounds of negotiations but all were fruitless due to unrealistic demands by the latter.

"In the first round, it was true that the federal government was yet to be formed.

"Firstly we made our stand clear that we did not want to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form a government in Pahang, and secondly, we wanted to form a government with BN.

"Thirdly, we said it was logical for the MB to be appointment from PN because we won more seats," he said after taking part in a PN ceramah for the Padang Serai parliamentary election in Taman Mahsuri here last night.

Saifuddin said in the meeting, Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had put forward some suggestions to accommodate Wan Rosdy's needs.

"At that time, it was true, the federal government was yet to be formed. Hence, Tuan Ibrahim said in the event we formed the federal government, we offered Wan Rosdy a post in the federal level.

"The story is, how we have been very accommodative. That was the real message. It showed that we can take this option or the other option, for as long as we are not working with PH," claimed Saifuddin, who is also the Indera Mahkota Member of Parliament.

Thus, Saifuddin reminded Wan Rosdy not to spin the story on the talks.

"As such, Datuk Seri (Wan Rosdy), don't spin the story. The story was how we (PN) was willing to accommodate BN.

"The truth is how Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy was arrogant in the third (final) round of talks with Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim."

Saifuddin said Wan Rosdy demanded the Menteri Besar post to be given to BN and two Exco members for PH, with only one Exco post to PN.

"That was arrogant. So we decided that there was not point in negotiating (with Wan Rosdy).

"How to negotiate (this)? The party with 17 seats would only be getting one Exco post, the party that won eight seats would get two Exco members post.

"There is no logic in the world that will support that he (Wan Rosdy) was right."

It was reported yesterday that Wan Rosdy had claimed that PN appeared to be "stubborn" in its demands and had other ideas, including an offer to appoint him as a minister with senatorship.

He was also reported as saying that Pahang PH chairman Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari had on the other hand had assured him that PH was prepared to cooperate with BN to form a stable state government without imposing any condition.

Pahang saw a hung state legislative assembly after the GE15 after none of the coalitions won a simple majority.

The deadlock was finally over after BN agreed to work with PH, which saw Wan Rosdy being appointed as the Menteri Besar for the second term.

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