Malacca opposition chief wants BN-PN pact for state polls, CM says no guarantee

 

Malacca Umno has expressed a willingness to discuss BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s hint of a continued pact with Perikatan Nasional following the alliance’s resounding victory in the Negeri Sembilan polls. 

Malacca Umno liaison committee chairperson and state chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh, however, emphasised that while talks on the matter can be held, an agreement is not guaranteed.

“Anyone is welcome to come and negotiate, but negotiations do not necessarily end with an agreement because everything depends on each party’s respective strengths.

“We are not bound by any arrangement that has yet to be formally established as a final coalition, but I am open to everyone who wishes to negotiate with me,” Bernama quoted Rauf (above) as saying today.

Last night, Zahid expressed hope that the BN-PN pact would continue making waves in Malacca, citing the alliance’s winnings at the Negeri Sembilan state election.

The Umno president’s remarks came after BN and PN managed to consolidate Malay votes and bag 25 seats for a two-thirds majority in the Negeri Sembilan state assembly, while Pakatan Harapan was relegated to 11 seats.

While Malacca’s legislative assembly is scheduled to be automatically dissolved in December, Rauf had previously indicated that an election could be called next month.

‘Take it all the way to GE16’

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Malacca opposition leader Yadzil Yaakub said the apparent success of the understanding between BN and PN has proved that “Malay and bumiputera unity” remains a matter supported by the rakyat.

Malacca opposition leader Yadzil Yaakub

As such, he called for the pact to be continued and strengthened in Malacca, and potentially even to the next general election. 

“When votes are no longer split, and the struggle is united under the same goal, a coalition that is more trusted and more capable of offering political stability to the nation is born,” he said. 

Projecting that the state election could take place around October or November, the Bemban assemblyperson expressed confidence in all party leaders’ ability to discuss seat negotiations in a mutually respectful manner grounded in the spirit of muafakat (consensus).

“What matters most is ensuring that the interests of the people and the future of the nation always remain the priority,” said the Parti Wawasan Negara Jasin parliamentary coordinator.

Yadzil was previously sacked from Bersatu, along with several other assemblypersons and MPs, over a perceived alignment with the party’s former deputy president, Hamzah Zainudin, who is now leading Wawasan Negara.

The 28-seat Malacca state assembly has 20 BN representatives, one fewer than the number it secured at the 2021 state election after Rembia assemblyperson Jailani Khamis defected to PAS.

Besides five Harapan assemblypersons, the rest of the assembly consists of Yadzil and Bersatu’s Dr Aleef Yusof. - Mkini