PAS wants to wield 16:16 magic in Kuala Besut by-election

(The Star) – PAS is determined to ensure that the Kuala Besut by-election ends in a “hung legislative assembly”. This, said its secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali, was because there were different legal interpretations of the number of seats between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat in the assembly was equal and also on the voting power of the state Speaker.

“What is important now is for PAS to win in Kuala Besut to equal the number of seats that Barisan has in the state assembly,” he told The Star.

“Then, we will get legal experts to give their views on the situation.”

The 13th general election saw Barisan securing a slim win in Terengganu with a two-seat advantage over Pakatan’s 17 seats. Should the Opposition win the Kuala Besut by-election, Barisan and Pakatan would have the same number of seats —16 — in the state assembly.

While some view this as a hung assembly with a possibility that a re-election must be called for the entire state, there are also those with the opinion that Barisan still has the advantage of ruling the state as the Speaker has the right to vote.

State PAS commissioner Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut said the party’s machinery was focused on winning the by-election and making history despite disputes over a possible hung state assembly.

He said a “balanced” assembly was unheard of, thus it would be one of the motivations to win the Kuala Besut seat.

“Seats locked at 16:16 will be the first of its kind. We want to be the first to do so,” he said.

“We have won the seat before so it is not impossible for us to win again this time.”

He added that the “magic number of 16:16” was also one of the party’s campaign mottos for the by-election.

“We have chosen our best candidate with the goal of locking the assembly at 16 seats each.”