Pakatan Harapan (PH) has yet to provide specific instructions on the form of support its election machinery will extend to Bersatu candidates under their electoral pact for the Melaka state election.
Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said the party was open to accepting any form of assistance to improve the chances of its seven candidates, provided its principles remained intact.
However, he said no specific instructions had been given on the type of support or cooperation PH’s election machinery would provide.
“Bersatu is open to cooperation with any party, as long as our seats are not sacrificed. If PH can help us win in Bemban, that’s good,” he told FMT while campaigning today.
PH-Bersatu pact despite three-cornered contests
Bersatu remains a component party of Perikatan Nasional (PN) but has reached an electoral understanding with PH for the Melaka polls.
Despite the arrangement, the two sides will still face each other in three constituencies – Ayer Keroh, Kelebang and Pengkalan Batu.
PH has, however, made way for Bersatu in four seats, including Bemban and Sungai Udang, which the party won under the PN banner in the 2021 state election.
Bersatu wants stronger opposition presence
Tun Faisal said Bersatu hoped to increase the number of opposition assemblymen in the Melaka state assembly, as a stronger opposition was necessary to ensure effective checks and balances.
He acknowledged that Barisan Nasional (BN) remained in a strong position following the 2021 election, when the Umno-led coalition won 21 of the 28 state seats.
He said this could result in the interests of certain segments of the population being sidelined.
