‘Learn to count’, Ahmad Maslan tells Perikatan over claims of forming govt after by-elections

MUAR: Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has clapped back at Perikatan Nasional’s statement that it will be able to form the government if it wins the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats.

“Perikatan should learn how to count and stop dreaming of forming the government if they do not have the figures”, the Umno supreme council member said.

“If they win in Pulai, there will be 147 seats in the government; to rule the country, they need 112 seats; this is impossible as they only have 75.

“If they win Simpang Jeram, the total Perikatan seats in the state government will only be four against 52 seats; Barisan Nasional has 40 seats and Pakatan Harapan has 12 seats; so I think they need to check their counting skills,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after the Ceramah Kelompok programme at Taman Sri Kasih, here, on Monday night (Aug 28).

Voters in the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats have a very easy decision to make, and these two seats should be on the government side and not the Opposition side, he added.

“If they choose the candidate from the unity government, they are choosing clarity, a compatible government, and ease of connection between the federal and state governments,” he said.

In the Pulai by-election, former Johor state Speaker Suhaizan Kayat is going up against Pulai Bersatu deputy chief Zulkifli Jaafar and an Independent candidate, Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association president Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi.

In the Simpang Jeram by-election, Pakatan is fielding Bakri Amanah deputy chief Nazri Abdul Rahman.

He will be challenged by Johor Perikatan committee member Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya as well as an Independent candidate, businessman S. Jeganathan.

The Election Commission had set the by-elections for both seats on Sept 9 and early voting on Sept 5.