BN-PH talks on Melaka polls alliance ‘ongoing, positive’

 Melaka PKR chief Adam Adli says PH wants a bigger role in strengthening the Melaka government.

Melaka PKR chairman Adam Adli said state PH and BN chiefs, Adly Zahari and Ab Rauf Yusoh, met on Tuesday and that negotiations are ongoing. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are in the midst of negotiations on an electoral alliance for the next state election in Melaka, says state PKR chief Adam Adli.

Adam said Melaka PH chief Adly Zahari met his BN counterpart, chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh, on Tuesday, and that discussions are ongoing, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“Adly met Rauf on Tuesday and it appears that we’re headed in a positive direction, so we hope for the best.

“PH doesn’t want to be considered merely as a party that would bring only non-Malay support. We want to have a bigger role than that in strengthening the Melaka state government,” said Adam, the Hang Tuah Jaya MP.

The Melaka legislative assembly will automatically dissolve in December. The next state election must be held in late February at the latest.

Last month, Rauf said the Melaka polls could be held before the year ends.

Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said discussing a possible pact with PH for the Melaka polls was not on the agenda for the Umno Supreme Council meeting tomorrow.

The meeting, to be held in Melaka, prompted speculation that discussions on the state election were on the cards.

“It’s just the monthly Supreme Council meeting, which we have decided to hold in all states, including Melaka. (Discussing the PH pact) is not on the agenda,” said Asyraf.

BN leads the Melaka government while PH is part of the state administration, having been coopted in 2023 following the formation of the federal unity government.

Umno Youth chief and Merlimau assemblyman Dr Akmal Saleh, an outspoken critic of Umno’s long-time rival DAP, has been pushing for BN to tie up with PAS instead.

In the 2021 state polls, BN won 21 seats while PH won five and Perikatan Nasional two.

One Umno assemblyman, Jailani Khamis, left the party for PAS before the state’s anti-hopping law came into force. - FMT