PAS is negotiating seat allocations with Barisan Nasional (BN) ahead of the Negeri Sembilan state election, with party president Abdul Hadi Awang confirming that discussions between the two sides are ongoing.
He said PAS had agreed in principle for BN to defend the 14 seats it currently holds, while PAS would contest the three seats it previously won.
The allocation of the remaining 17 constituencies, he said, would be determined through negotiations between the two parties.
PAS and BN discussing cooperation
According to Hadi, PAS is working towards electoral cooperation with BN in the upcoming state election.
He said the two parties had previously worked together in an attempt to form the Negeri Sembilan government through statutory declarations, but the effort failed after two Bersatu assemblymen withdrew their support.
“BN already has 14 seats and we have five seats,” he said, referring to the two additional seats currently held by Bersatu.
“We will divide the remaining seats among ourselves.”
PAS accepts BN’s leadership
PAS ended its electoral cooperation with Bersatu in June, although both parties remain members of Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Hadi said PAS had no objection to BN, which he described as the dominant political force in Negeri Sembilan, continuing to hold the menteri besar’s post.
The Negeri Sembilan legislative assembly has 36 seats. In the previous state election, Pakatan Harapan (PH) won 17 seats.
Polling scheduled for Aug 1
In April, Umno-BN assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan announced they had withdrawn support for Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun’s administration after expressing a loss of confidence in his leadership.
Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias said the move was linked to Aminuddin’s handling of a royal dispute involving four chieftains seeking to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
The Negeri Sembilan state election is scheduled for Aug 1, with nomination on July 18 and early voting on July 28.
