MELAKA: Melaka Barisan Nasional is open to cooperating with any party under a BN Plus formula for the upcoming state election, says its chairman and Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
Ab Rauf, who is also Melaka Umno liaison committee chairman, said the party welcomed discussions with any political party interested in working together for the state polls.
“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.
“So, 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,” he told reporters after the Jelajah Ketua Menteri Sayang Rakyat (MeSRa) programme at the Telok Mas State Constituency Development and Coordination Committee Complex here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported as saying on Saturday that the successful cooperation between the coalition and Perikatan Nasional in forming the Negri Sembilan state government would spur them to maintain its winning momentum in the forthcoming Melaka election.
Meanwhile, Ab Rauf congratulated Juasseh assemblyman Datuk Ismail Lasim on his appointment as the new Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar.
Ismail retained the Juasseh seat with a 4,091-vote majority after securing 6,907 votes in the state election, defeating Pakatan Harapan candidate Mohd Aidil Abdullah, who polled 2,816 votes, and Bersatu candidate Mohd Zuhaimi Md Yusof, who garnered 506 votes.
