IPOH: The top brass of Barisan Nasional will decide whether or not it will cooperate with Pakatan Harapan in the Melaka state election, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said any decision made by the coalition's leaders would be a collective one.
He said Barisan will not be influenced by talk or commentaries by political analysts on whether the cooperation would be better or more logical.
"This depends on the discussion by the state leadership, which would then bring it to the top leadership of Barisan.
"What's important is that we want to contest. Our intention is clear," he told a press conference after the Perak MCA election training workshop here on Sunday (Aug 23).
"But because it (the Melaka state legislative assembly) has not been dissolved, we are not discussing the seat situation," he said, adding that the Melaka election is expected to be held in the next few months.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had reportedly said that any discussions about a cooperation between Pakatan and Barisan would be handled by both coalitions' respective election committees.
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Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also said that they remained open to negotiations on seat allocations, including possible seat swaps, if the discussions were conducted honestly and sincerely.
Dr Wee said MCA would have to strengthen itself so that it could help Barisan secure a win in the state election.
"We prioritise Barisan and we want to strengthen our dominant position in the state government.
"If we don't have strength, it means we don't have bargaining chips. This is the political reality we cannot deny," he said.
Dr Wee also said that MCA would still be cautious despite having won some state seats in the recent Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections.
"I think we still have a lot of room to improve.
"Each state may have a different scenario, issues, and... characteristics... so we are not, as people say, too excited over the victory (in Johor and Negri Sembilan)," he said.
He added that the wins would motivate the party.
"It's not possible that we win back (lost ground) in the blink of an eye.
"We have to be practical as well. In Negri Sembilan, we haven't had a state seat for 13 years but suddenly we won two," he said.
"And these two are thanks to the blessing of joint efforts with Barisan component parties, so we have to start from zero," he added.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad opened the workshop, which was also attended by MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.
