KOTA KINABALU: The door remains open for Barisan Nasional to swap seats for the Melaka state elections, says its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said Barisan will work on the principle that incumbent seats won by a party must be respected, though a swap can be made if it is mutually agreed upon
“I have told the Melaka Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh), who is also the Barisan state chairman, that the basis of any negotiation is that seats won by any party must be respected,” he told reporters after officiating the Rungus Cultural Festival organised by the Malaysian Momogun Rungus Association at the Matunggong hall in Sabah’s northern Kudat district on Saturday (Aug 8).
Zahid was responding to comments from PKR youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, who urged coalition parties not to prematurely announce their intention to defend certain seats before seat negotiations were finalised.
Muhammad Kamil on Friday (Aug 7) had criticised the Melaka Chief Minister’s announcement to defend all 21 Melaka seats won in 2021 and said such declarations undermined sincerity in negotiations.
Zahid said the seat-swap approach could also be considered in other states controlled by coalition partners.
“Second is the possibility of swaps in other states controlled by them. Our principle is that negotiations should remain open — not fully open, but not completely shut either,” he said.
Zahid also addressed the rumours that Kota Marudu MP Datuk Wetrom Bahanda, who is currently deputy president of Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), and his brother, independent Kudat MP Datuk Verdon, are joining a Barisan party in Sabah.
He said Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup will have to discuss the matter with the duo prior to the matter being brought up to the Barisan supreme council for confirmation.
“Both brothers have always been ‘blue' in their hearts. I will entrust the Sabah Barisan to negotiate before being brought to the supreme council,” he said.
Zahid hoped that both MPs would be able to join Barisan by the next general election.
Wetron is also the president of the Malaysian Momogun Rungus Association.
