Hamzah calls for give-and-take in Melaka seat talks

 The Wawasan president says the leaders of BN and PN must sit together and work out how to continue the ‘blue wave’ that began in the Johor polls.

Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin said that all the parties involved must look beyond Melaka and consider the bigger picture, including other states set to hold their own elections.

PETALING JAYA:

Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin has urged Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional to adopt a give-and-take approach in negotiating seats in the coming Melaka state election.

He said that continuing the “blue wave” that began in Johor would require coalition leaders to sit down together and work out seat allocations.

“If we are really to cooperate and continue the blue wave that began in Johor, all those involved must practise compromise,” he said after the party’s extraordinary general meeting tonight.

Hamzah was responding to BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement yesterday that BN intends to defend all 21 seats it currently holds in the Melaka state assembly.

However, Zahid also said BN is open to reaching an understanding with any party, including those in PN, similar to the arrangement made for the Negeri Sembilan state election.

Hamzah said all the parties involved must look beyond Melaka and consider the bigger picture, including other states set to hold their own elections. “The public interest is our greater priority. We do not want our approach towards each other to change after we win and take power. That is most important,” he said.

Hamzah also said Wawasan is interested in contesting Bemban and Sungai Udang, claiming that the incumbents had expressed their support for his party and should be given the opportunity to defend their seats.

At the same time, he dismissed claims of a rift between BN and PN, describing them as attempts by certain quarters to drive a wedge between the coalitions.

“We just had our representatives sworn in as executive councillors in Negeri Sembilan today. How can anyone claim there is a rift between us?” he asked. - FMT