MELAKA: Melaka Barisan Nasional will open negotiations with other coalitions before deciding if it will pursue an electoral pact in the upcoming state election.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said discussions would be held with the parties concerned to assess possible forms of political cooperation following the dissolution of the Melaka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (Sept 23).
"Let us settle the dissolution of the assembly first and then discuss cooperation.
"I will hold negotiations with the parties concerned and evaluate the discussions as well as the proposals put forward," he told a special press conference after announcing the dissolution date at Seri Negeri on Tuesday (Sept 22).
Ab Rauf said any decision on political cooperation would be guided by the interests of the Melaka people and the future administration of the state, rather than personal interests.
"The priority is not what benefits me, but how we can administer the state in the interests of the people," he said.
Asked whether Barisan would contest the election on its own, Ab Rauf said no decision had been reached.
"I will announce it once the negotiations have concluded and a decision has been made," he said.
Earlier, Ab Rauf announced that the state assembly would be dissolved with effect from Wednesday (Sept 23) to pave the way for a state election, subject to the Election Commission’s processes and scheduling.
In the 2021 Melaka election, Barisan secured a two-thirds majority by winning 21 of the 28 state seats.
Pakatan Harapan won five seats and Perikatan Nasional, two.
