Formal negotiations between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) on cooperation in the upcoming Melaka state election are expected to begin after the state legislative assembly is dissolved.
BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said discussions between the two coalitions were currently informal, Berita Harian reported.
He said Melaka BN chief and chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh would lead the negotiations and finalise the matter.
“We are leaving it to Rauf. I think he will hold formal discussions after the state assembly is dissolved.
“I have already held discussions with the entire Melaka Umno political bureau, and the matter has been brought to the Supreme Council,” Zahid said after attending an event in Serdang.
PH waiting for formal talks to begin
PH election director Amirudin Shari said he was waiting for Rauf to initiate formal discussions on political cooperation for the state election.
Amirudin said he had spoken with Rauf, but the Melaka BN chief wanted to wait for policy decisions from Umno and BN’s central leadership before continuing the discussions, Bernama reported.
The remarks come amid uncertainty over the coalition arrangements for the Melaka polls.
Zahid had initially said BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN) would continue their alliance in the Melaka election following their convincing victory in the Negeri Sembilan election on Aug 1.
However, the arrangement appeared to have reached an impasse after Zahid said BN wanted to contest the 21 seats it won in the previous Melaka election, while PN maintained that negotiations were still ongoing.
BN won 21 seats in 2021
Melaka has 28 state seats.
In the 2021 state election, BN won 21 seats and formed the state government, while PH secured five seats and PN won two.
The state government’s term is due to expire on Dec 31.
