DAP has questioned whether Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) are moving towards another political understanding in Melaka after three PN assemblymen backed a state government bill allowing the appointment of seven unelected assemblymen.
Ayer Keroh assemblyman Kerk Chee Yee said the support from PN lawmakers was unusual, noting that the opposition had rarely voted in favour of motions tabled by the state government.
According to Kerk, the only previous occasion when PN assemblymen supported a government motion was one to increase assemblymen’s salaries, which he said directly benefited them.
DAP withdraws from state government
PN currently has three representatives in the Melaka state assembly: PAS’s Jailani Khamis (Rembia), Bersatu’s Aleef Yusof (Sungai Udang) and Parti Wawasan Negara’s Yadzil Yaakub (Bemban).
Kerk also noted that Aleef is an ally of Parti Wawasan Negara president Hamzah Zainudin.
DAP withdrew from the Umno-led Melaka state government in protest against the bill.
Kerk questioned whether PAS had supported the legislation in exchange for appointments to the state assembly.
Kerk links developments to wider BN-PN cooperation
The Melaka DAP publicity secretary also questioned whether the main obstacle preventing cooperation between Umno and PAS in the state had previously been seat allocation.
He said cooperation between the two parties began during the Johor state election, is continuing into the Negeri Sembilan state election and could also extend to Melaka.
Although BN and PAS did not have a formal electoral pact in Johor, PAS had urged its members and supporters to back BN candidates in constituencies not contested by PN.
For the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan state election, BN and PN have reached a formal electoral arrangement to avoid multi-cornered contests. Under the agreement, BN is contesting 25 seats, while the PAS-led PN is fielding candidates in the remaining 11 seats.
However, Bersatu, a PN component party, has decided to contest under its own logo, objecting to what it described as a unilateral decision to cooperate with BN.
