MELAKA: Barisan Nasional’s leadership will decide whether PAS can contest under the coalition’s symbol in the Melaka polls, says Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
The caretaker Chief Minister said negotiations on potential electoral alliances were ongoing, but any party seeking a pact must safeguard the state’s harmony and support its continued growth.
“The final say on any alliance rests with the Barisan leadership.
“Any political party seeking a pact must safeguard the harmony of the state and support its rapid growth,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Ab Rauf was responding to PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang that his party was prepared to use the Barisan symbol in the state election.
Abdul Hadi said on Friday that discussions with Barisan on cooperation and the use of its symbol were ongoing.
He added that PAS was open to contesting under either its own symbol or Barisan’s, depending on the outcome of the talks.
Ab Rauf, who is also Melaka Barisan chairman, said he had been given the mandate by the coalition’s leadership to negotiate with potential partners.
“We are looking for partners who can safeguard the interests of all races and ensure the state continues to progress,” he said.
He said the outcome of the negotiations would be referred to the Barisan leadership for a final decision on its election partners.
Ab Rauf said Barisan was confident of retaining all 21 seats it won in the 2021 state election.
“With the positive sentiment at the grassroots level, we believe we can win more than 21 seats, depending on the electoral pact that is being negotiated,” he said.
Ab Rauf said his administration had served all segments of society in Melaka over the past three years, regardless of ethnicity or background.
The election will be held for all 28 seats in the state assembly, whose term would otherwise have expired on Dec 27.
