MELAKA: Crucial talks to determine Barisan Nasional’s electoral alliances for the Melaka polls are set to begin within hours, with the coalition also prepared to engage Perikatan Nasional despite uncertainty over its status.
Melaka Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said high-level negotiations with interested political coalitions could take place as early as Thursday (Sept 24) night or Friday (Sept 25).
“The meeting may be held tonight or tomorrow, I don't know for now on the timing.
"I will disclose the progress and details to the media once the discussions have concluded,” he said after attending an appreciation event for Melaka government pensioners at a leading hotel here on Thursday(Sept 24)
However, Ab Rauf said negotiations remained at a preliminary stage as none of the interested parties had formally presented the terms of a possible electoral pact.
“As I have said before, such discussions should not be conducted through social media. They must take place face-to-face,” he said.
Ab Rauf, who is also the caretaker Chief Minister, confirmed that Barisan would hold talks with interested parties but stressed that the coalition’s 21 seats were non-negotiable.
“We will not compromise on the 21 state seats won by Barisan in the 2021 Melaka election and intend to defend all of them,” he said.
He said Barisan was also willing to consider negotiations with Perikatan if the coalition expressed interest, notwithstanding two notices issued to it by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
One notice sought an explanation as to why Perikatan should not be deregistered, while the other ordered the coalition to suspend all activities effective Wednesday (Sept 23).
The notices followed a complaint by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, which claimed it had been excluded from a Perikatan supreme council meeting on July 16.
Ab Rauf said Barisan would deal with the matter accordingly if talks with Perikatan materialised.
“The ROS issue involving Perikatan will not affect the direction of Barisan’s preparations for the coming state election,” he said.
On Tuesday (Sept 22), Ab Rauf said Barisan would open negotiations with other political coalitions before deciding whether to enter into an electoral pact.
He said any potential partnership would be carefully evaluated following the dissolution of the Melaka legislative assembly, which took effect on Wednesday (Sept 23).
According to Ab Rauf, the final decision would be guided by the interests of Melakans and the need to ensure a stable state administration rather than his personal political 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 could contest the election on its own, Ab Rauf said no decision had been reached.
“I will make an announcement once the negotiations have concluded and a decision has been made,” he added.
Barisan secured a two-thirds majority in the 2021 Melaka election after winning 21 of the 28 state seats, Pakatan Harapan won five seats, while Perikatan captured two.
