A potential alliance between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN) could give the opposition coalition a 75 per cent chance of forming the Perak government at the next state election, according to PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
He said a study had projected that a combined PN-BN effort could secure between 32 and 38 of the 59 seats in the Perak state assembly, putting the coalition in a stronger position to take control of the state.
Ahmad Samsuri said the projection represented a significant shift from PN’s current estimated 48 per cent chance of winning Perak if it continued with its existing political cooperation.
“If PN adds BN, what is the potential? This is where the game changer comes in. The number is very interesting at 75 per cent, which is more than two-thirds, but the road towards achieving it will certainly not be a highway. It will be filled with challenges,” he said.
He was speaking at the opening of the 23rd Perak PAS Convention at Hotel Perdana here today.
Ahmad Samsuri stressed that the projection was not a guarantee, as the outcome would depend on several factors, including campaign strategies, candidate selection, voter turnout and political sentiment during the election.
He said one of the main factors behind the stronger projection was the possibility of combining PN and BN votes while reducing three-cornered contests, potentially creating more direct one-on-one contests against Pakatan Harapan (PH).
However, he acknowledged that cooperation between the two coalitions would not automatically mean all PN supporters would vote for BN candidates, or vice versa.
He also cautioned that disagreements over seat allocations and candidate selection could trigger internal protests and affect the coalition’s prospects if not handled carefully.
Several PH-held constituencies were identified as potentially vulnerable if PN and BN successfully consolidate their support, including Kuala Sepetang, Hulu Kinta, Tebing Tinggi, Sungai Rapat, Hutan Melintang and Teja.
Sungai Manik, Changkat Jong and Sungkai were also among the seats highlighted as potentially changing hands under a united PN-BN strategy.
Ahmad Samsuri said disputes over seat distribution and candidate choices would need to be managed effectively, stressing that PN’s broader objective in Perak was to defeat the existing PH state government.
“The bigger goal for us in Perak is to bring down the PH government that is in power today,” he said.
