KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — Datuk Mohd Hatta Md Ramli today said Pakatan Harapan (PH) will campaign together with Barisan Nasional (BN) for the Tioman state seat, following the former's backing for the latter to form the state government.

The Parti Amanah Negara secretary-general called it a necessary move at a time when racial flames are being fanned by Perikatan Nasional's (PN) in the election.

"Amanah views the state election in Tioman division N.42 as a clash between the new Pahang state government and racial and religious extremists, which needs to be dealt with seriously.

"In that spirit, Amanah sees the need to form unity among the state government components in opposing the PN candidate,” he said in a statement, referring to PN candidate Nor Idayu Hashim.

"In order for the candidate representing this unity government to win, the PH election machinery will move together in every BN campaign,” he said.

BN's candidate Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Hussain had earlier welcomed PH's candidate Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly’s willingness to step aside for him to contest for the state seat.

Polling for the Tioman state seat for the 15th general election was postponed to December 7 following the death of PN candidate Md. Yunus Ramli a few hours before polling began on November 19.

This saw a hung Pahang state assembly for the first time as no party obtained a simple majority of 22 seats to form the state government.

But yesterday, Pahang BN reached an agreement to form the state government with PH.

Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who is also Pahang BN chairman, has been reappointed as the mentri besar.

PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had last night asserted that PN must win the Tioman seat in order to overhaul the PH-BN Pahang state government.

Other candidates vying to win the Tioman state seat are Gerakan Tanah Air's Osman A. Bakar, and independent candidate Sulaiman Bakar.