PETALING JAYA: PAS is ready to begin talks with Umno on seat allocations for the Melaka state election, but the discussions will not involve Bersatu for now, says Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
Sinar Harian reported that Takiyuddin, who is also PAS secretary-general, said the party had been given the mandate to negotiate with Umno on seat allocations for Perikatan Nasional, with discussions expected to begin soon although no specific date had been set.
“PAS has decided that we are still allowed, or have been asked, to negotiate with Umno based on the seat positions,” he said after chairing the Main Committee Meeting for the 72nd PAS Kelantan annual muktamar at Pusat Tarbiah Islamiah Kelantan (Putik) here on Sunday night.
Takiyuddin said the seat allocation formula used in Negri Sembilan would not necessarily be replicated in Melaka, as the political landscape and seat positions in the two states were different.
He said one of the issues to be discussed was the status of the Rembia state seat, which was won by Umno in the 2021 Melaka state election before its incumbent joined PAS.
“The question is whether it remains an Umno seat even though the incumbent has joined PAS, or whether it will be considered a PAS seat. That will be part of the negotiations. We have not decided yet,” he said.
Takiyuddin said the results of the 15th General Election (GE15) would also be taken into account, pointing out that PAS won two of the six parliamentary seats it contested in Melaka, while Bersatu, PKR, DAP and Amanah won one seat each. Umno failed to win any parliamentary seat in the state.
He added that based on the current composition, Umno held between 20 and 21 seats in the 28-member Melaka state assembly, with the remaining seats held by DAP, Amanah and PKR, but stressed that the matter remained subject to negotiations and no final decision had been made.
