N Sembilan polls: Umno seeks seat swaps for potential MB candidate

Negeri Sembilan Umno looking to swap seats with its Pakatan Harapan counterparts for the state election this year.

Its secretary Mustafa Salim said the swap will involve a potential candidate from Umno for the position of menteri besar.

In addition, Negeri Sembilan Umno also confirmed it has requested additional seats for it to contest.

“There are requests for specific additional seats from Umno, and in those discussions, seat exchanges may occur.

“This means that the Klawang state assembly seat, currently held by Amanah, may be requested by Umno and exchanged with another seat, which may also be an Umno seat.

“The exchange of seats is for specific individuals who understood to be a contender for menteri besar and so on,” he told Malaysiakini.

However, Mustafa did not disclose the number of additional seats requested by Umno.

On April 7, the Negeri Sembilan Harapan chairperson Aminuddin Harun said state Umno’s request for additional seats in the election would be discussed by Harapan at the state level.

The decision will then be made by the Harapan presidential council, which is expected to take a month.

“The meeting (with Umno) has taken place. Alhamdulillah, it went well and there was a reasonable understanding.

"As usual in discussions, requests are made. I will bring the matter to the consideration of my colleagues in Harapan," he said.

Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan Umno chairperson Jalaluddin Alias said the matter is still under negotiation and has not been finalised.

“For now, it is still in the early stages of negotiation, there has been no final decision yet," he said briefly. - Mkini