GEORGE TOWN: A think tank close to Amanah leaders said Pakatan Harapan (PH) will be able to counter the influence of Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS in Kedah, following the opposition coalition’s announcement of seat distribution among its four parties.

Ilham Centre said with the opposition already holding the parliamentary seats of Alor Setar, Kuala Kedah, Padang Serai and Sungai Petani, PH needed to exert a bit more effort to widen its influence in the state.

According to a document showing allocation of seats among PH parties for the next polls, PPBM will stand in Langkawi, Jerlun, Kubang Pasu, Jerai, Pendang and Baling.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said PPBM has a strong presence in Langkawi, Jerlun, Kubang Pasu, Jerai and Pendang.

“Baling, on the other hand, could be a tall order, as current MP Abdul Azeez Rahim has an iron grip on the seat,” he told FMT.

Meanwhile, PKR will run in Alor Setar, Kuala Kedah, Sungai Petani, Padang Serai, Kulim Bandar Baharu and Merbok, while Amanah in Padang Terap, Sik and Pokok Sena.

Hisommudin said PKR would do well in the southern part of Kedah, where there are a large number of non-Malays.

He said the party now needed to get help from PPBM and Amanah to attract support from Umno and PAS supporters.

“This can give an added advantage to the seats contested by PKR,” he said.

Hisommudin said Amanah faces an uphill battle in Padang Terap and Sik, seats currently held by Umno.

He said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PH’s prime ministerial candidate, is still a force to be reckoned with in Kedah.

He said this was due to Mahathir’s contributions to the state during his 22-year premiership.

“They have not been forgotten by voters in areas such as Langkawi, Jerlun and Kubang Pasu,” he said.

Mahathir was the MP for Kubang Pasu until 2004. He recently said that he could stand again in his former constituency, or in either Langkawi or Putrajaya.

On PAS, Hisomuddin said although the party was once strong in the state, it has now weakened.

He said the Islamist party’s mild stand towards national issues had led to a decline in its popularity.

“PAS is now only depending on the strength of its hardcore members. In several localities where PAS is strong and has a large number of members, it can only serve to disrupt support for PH,” he said.

He said many fence sitters who had voted for PAS would now choose between BN and PH.