ALOR SETAR - Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor synically welcomes any party to 'try their luck' at taking over Kedah in the upcoming state polls.
He said the dream or any efforts to compete in a healthy manner are free and not against the law.
"Imagining is free. Dreaming is free, so go ahead," he said in a press conference after chairing the Exco Meeting at Wisma Darul Aman here on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was confident that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) and BN coalition would take over two opposition states in the polls.
Anwar, however, did not reveal which two states but said it was based on research and data obtained.
Further, he was confident that Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Penang would remain under the coalition.
The 15th state elections will witness three states under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration, which are Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah. while Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan under PH will also see a heated competition on Aug 12.
BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan was reported as saying that BN must take over Kedah and Terengganu in the state election so all members would unite, as he described both states as swing states.
Sanusi, however, was optimistic that PN would be able to defend the three states the coalition currently governs and even surprise everyone by wresting a PH state.
"PN's working towards governing six states after the elections. We will work towards that direction (seizing three PH states)," he said.
Commenting on Kedah PH chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar's statement that he was confident in their abilities to take Kedah from PN if a 10 per cent of swing vote were to occur.
"Mahfuz said if 10 per cent of supporters swung, they would gain 16 seats, meaning PN would have 20 of the overall 36 seats.
"If the swing happens, PN would win with more seats, thus allowing them to form a government. Even if the 10 per cent swing occurs, they (PH) would not become government as they require at least 19 seats," he explained.
Sanusi said PH and BN should remain in opposition in the state.
"Let's not worry about swing; they think it's easy to gain 10 per cent of votes, especially with PH and BN being scattered," he said.