PH open to pacts for Melaka polls, Amirudin reiterates

 This comes a day after Melaka DAP chief Khoo Poay Tiong claimed PH would go solo in the Nov 14 state election.

PH election director Amirudin Shari said the coalition was not ruling out going solo in the Melaka state election.

PETALING JAYA:

Pakatan Harapan election director Amirudin Shari has reiterated that the coalition remains open to pacts for the Melaka polls, despite state DAP chief Khoo Poay Tiong claiming PH will go solo.

However, Amirudin said PH was also not ruling out contesting on its own and going for all 28 seats “if the situation requires it”, Bernama reported.

The PKR vice-president said Melaka PH was prepared for all possibilities, whether going solo, working with other parties, or joining a larger coalition.

The final outcome depends on the PH presidential council’s decision, Amirudin said.

He said PH currently expects to contest 18 to 21 seats.

“At least 18 to 21 at most (for now), that is almost certain. However, if the situation requires it, we may contest all 28 seats,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference.

Also at the press conference were Melaka PH chief Adly Zahari, Khoo, and state Amanah chief Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat.

PH has been linked to a possible alliance with Bersatu, especially after a recent dinner involving leaders of their respective state chapters. However, DAP leaders did not attend the dinner.

Yesterday, Khoo said PH would contest the state election on its own.

The Melaka PH deputy chairman claimed all three component parties had agreed at the state level for the coalition to go solo and they would explain their stand to the central leadership “to get feedback”.

Ruling state coalition Barisan Nasional previously said it would hold negotiations with all potential parties on a possible pact for the Nov 14 polls.

This is despite BN initially stating its intention to work with Perikatan Nasional in Melaka following their alliance’s convincing victory in the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan polls.

Amirudin said the top PH leadership was still considering negotiations with BN but declined to comment further, saying he did not want to pre-empt the presidential council. - FMT