Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary has called on Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional in Melaka to start election strategy talks immediately after the Sabah state polls wrap up.
Shamsul Iskandar Akin emphasised that seat negotiations cannot wait, with the Melaka assembly set to dissolve automatically on 26 December 2026.
“We must discuss the full coalition strategy,” he told FMT in an interview.
As Melaka PKR chief, Shamsul addressed demands from Melaka DAP leaders to sever ties with Umno Youth chief and state exco member Akmal Saleh.
In May, 15 DAP branches in Jasin passed a motion pushing the unity government to avoid fielding candidates who “practise extremist politics” in the next state election.
They pledged support for unity government picks only if those candidates steer clear of such politics.
Shamsul countered that PH and BN need to remain united to keep public trust and starve the opposition of any leverage.
Perikatan Nasional is “very weak now”, he said. “Bersatu has internal fights, and tensions with PAS.”
“Whatever criticisms of the Madani government, this multi-party coalition delivers—and people see it. That’s the positive energy out there.”
“Prove to the public we work as one for them,” he urged, advising DAP and Umno leaders to settle differences behind closed doors.
Shamsul also pushed for fairness in seat talks, warning no party should demand more than its due.
“You can’t claim unity means contesting 26 out of 28 seats. Fairness is the golden rule,” he said.
The Melaka state assembly holds 28 seats. In 2021, BN won 21, PH took five, and PN grabbed two.
One Umno assemblyman later jumped to PAS, before the state’s anti-hopping law kicked in.
