MELAKA: Barisan Nasional will stick to its agreement to allocate seven seats it is not contesting to Perikatan Nasional for the Melaka state election, despite attempts to secure additional seats.
Barisan chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the allocation had been agreed upon under a mutual agreement, which Barisan would honour.
"I have heard about efforts to seek additional seats, but we already have a pact, an agreement to allow them to contest the seven seats Barisan is not contesting, which we have left to Perikatan’s component parties to distribute among themselves.
"That is the decision for now, and we will stand by what we have mutually agreed upon,” he told reporters after the Ulul Albab Huffaz Graduation and Excellence Appreciation Ceremony here on Saturday (Oct 24).
Yesterday, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was reported as saying that Perikatan hoped to hold negotiations to secure an additional one or two seats in addition to the seven announced earlier.
Ahmad Zahid had previously confirmed that negotiations on a political understanding with PAS had been finalised, with Barisan to contest 21 seats while the remaining seven would be allocated to PAS and its political allies.
The Election Commission (EC) has set Oct 31 for nomination, Nov 10 for early voting and Nov 14 for polling in the state election. - Bernama
