Umno sets Oct 14 to decide on cooperation with Bersatu in Melaka polls

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno will decide on Oct 14 whether to cooperate with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the event of state polls in Melaka, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

"The party's working committee will be calling for a meeting on Oct 14 The meeting is usually held at the end of the month but we decided to bring it forward," said Ahmad.

He added at a press conference in Parliament on Thursday (Oct 7) that the Umno supreme council will also be invited to attend the meeting.

Ahmad said that one of the issues to be raised is Umno's cooperation with Bersatu and PAS under Muafakat Nasional.

Asked if Umno agreed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's view of deferring the polls owing to health safety due to pandemic, Ahmad this was left to the government to decide.

"It will certainly be brought up for discussions by the Cabinet," he added.

On Wednesday (Oct 6), Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the party would not cooperate with Bersatu in the Melaka polls.

The statement by Ahmad Zahid came after Melaka Umno state liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said that he welcomed cooperation with Perikatan Nasional (PN) but Umno was also ready to contest alone.

On Monday (Oct 4), Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam consented to the dissolution of the 14th Melaka Legislative Assembly.

This paves the way for state elections to be held with 60 days, although there are questions over safety due to the ongoing pandemic.

The dissolution of the state legislative assembly came in the wake of four assemblymen coming forward to say that they have lost confidence in Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.