SEREMBAN: Parti Berjasa has scaled back its state election plans, opting to sit out of eight of the 15 seats it initially targeted for the Aug 1 Negri Sembilan polls after Barisan Nasional announced its candidacy for the same constituencies.
"This decision was made to sustain the wave of solidarity among the ummah and the Malay community.
"We do not want a split in the Malay vote, which would ultimately jeopardise the greater agenda," Party president Zamani Ibrahim said in a statement
The eight seats, he said, were Senaling, Juasseh, Seri Menanti, Lenggeng, Labu, Kota, Chembong and Gemencheh.
"However, our election machinery in the said constituencies will be activated to campaign to get the Malay voters to come out and vote for credible Malay candidates," he said in a statement.
Zamani said the party's decision to contest the remaining seven seats will also depend on where Perikatan Nasional will be fielding their candidates.
He said this stance aligns with Berjasa's struggle, which prioritises the interests of religion, race, and nation over mere political competition.
"Berjasa remains committed to making the agenda of Malay and Islamic unity a priority in facing the state election.
On Wednesday night (July 15), Barisan said it would be contesting in 25 of the 36 state seats.
Pakatan had on Tuesday (June 14) said they would be fielding candidates in all 36 seats with PKR vying for 16, 11 for DAP and nine for Amanah.
In the 2023 state polls, Umno contested 17 seats while Pakatan took 19. The MCA and MIC did not contest the election.
Then Barisan and Pakatan Harapan had contested the election as a team under the unity government banner.
Together, they won 31 of the 36 state seats with the remaining five going to Perikatan Nasional.
