MELAKA: Parties interested in collaborating with Barisan Nasional in the upcoming Melaka election should not negotiate via social media, says Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
The state Barisan chief said doing so could create a negative public perception of the parties involved.
“There is no need for us to negotiate through social media. We will issue official letters to all parties, inviting them to submit proposals on how they could become Barisan’s best strategic partner.
“These proposals will then be presented for a decision,” he told reporters after opening the 2026 National Environment Day.
Ab Rauf said any collaboration would ultimately be determined through formal discussions.
Also present were Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, his deputy Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh and Melaka State Secretary Datuk Salhah Salleh.
Ab Rauf said Barisan remained open to negotiations with any party on the Melaka polls.
“We are neither closing the door completely nor opening it wide for negotiations,” he said.
In the last state election, Barisan formed the state government after winning 21 of the 28 seats in the Melaka Legislative Assembly.
The coalition had also said that it would defend all the seats it won in the last polls and would not compromise on the seats should it cooperate with other parties.
Pakatan Harapan won five seats, while Perikatan Nasional secured two.
The term of the current state government, which came into power on Nov 20, 2021, ends on Dec 26.
Ab Rauf had said on Sept 16 that the “dissolution is awaiting one more Friday”.
However, talk is that the state assembly will be dissolved as early as tomorrow.
