Rashidi Urges PH-BN To Strengthen Cooperation In Penang

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Cooperation between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Penang state government should be strengthened to ensure administrative stability and safeguard the people's interests.

State Rural Development, Agrotechnology and Food Security Committee chairman Datuk Rashidi Zinol, who is Nibong Tebal UMNO division chief, said cooperation between the two political coalitions at both federal and state levels had so far been positive and constructive.

“Throughout my three years serving as a member of the Penang State Executive Council, I have never encountered any problems in working with the leadership and colleagues from PKR and DAP in Penang.

“Instead, our working relationship has been built on mutual respect, understanding, good communication and a shared priority of serving the people and developing the state,” he said in a statement today.

Rashidi said differences in political backgrounds should not stand in the way of cooperation when the overriding objective was to ensure the state administration functioned effectively and the people benefited.

Rashidi said the political understanding established in Penang after the 2023 state election was a partnership that should be valued and further strengthened.

The sole BN representative in the state administration said Penang PH’s decision to retain a BN representative in the state government until the next general election also reflected the importance of maintaining the cooperation.

He also voiced support for the position at the federal level that the Unity Government should be maintained and strengthened until the end of its term to ensure political stability, policy continuity and the Government’s continued focus on development and the people’s well-being.

In the 2023 Penang state election, PH and BN formed the Unity Government after winning 29 of the 40 seats contested, with DAP winning all 19 seats it contested, PKR seven, Amanah one and BN two.

-- BERNAMA