PETALING JAYA: PAS has denied that it will announce its candidates for the Melaka state election alongside Barisan Nasional on Saturday (Oct 24), as negotiations over seat allocations remain unresolved.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party was expected to announce its candidates on Oct 28 or 29, just days before nomination day, reported Sinar Harian.
"Not at this stage. We will make the announcement towards the end, either on Oct 28 or 29," he told reporters in Kota Baru on Friday (Oct 23).
He was speaking after delivering a religious lecture at the Karnival Rakyat 36 Tahun Membangun Bersama Islam at Dataran Warisan, Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium.
His remarks came after Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Thursday (Oct 22) that Barisan and PAS would share a stage to announce their candidates at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) on Saturday.
Tuan Ibrahim said PAS had earlier agreed to allow Barisan to announce its candidates first.
However, he stressed that ensuring smooth cooperation between the parties was more important than making a joint announcement.
He said the cooperation was based on mutual understanding, similar to the arrangement adopted during the previous Negri Sembilan state election.
Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim, who is also Perikatan Nasional deputy chairman, said negotiations over seat allocations with Barisan were still ongoing, with Perikatan hoping to secure one or two additional seats.
He said the seven seats mentioned by Ahmad Zahid had not been finalised, with discussions continuing at the coalition's main committee level.
"Although the seven seats mentioned by the Umno president are seats that Barisan did not win, we are still negotiating for another one or two seats.
"We expect the matter to be finalised today or tomorrow, God willing," he said.
Tuan Ibrahim said the seven seats under discussion comprised four won by DAP and three Malay-majority constituencies.
He added that the final decision on seat allocations would be made by the top party leadership through the seat negotiation committee.
Ahmad Zahid had earlier announced that Barisan would contest 21 of Melaka's 28 state seats, while PAS and its allies would take the remaining seven.
However, Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said on Thursday that neither the seat distribution nor the details of the cooperation had been finalised.
The Melaka state election is scheduled for Nov 14, with nomination day set for Oct 31.
ENDS
Melaka Polls, Politics, Pas, Deny, Announce, Candidates, Barisan Nasional, Negotiations, Seat Allocations
