NewzPN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said official discussions with Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's BN have yet to begin.PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional is open to swapping seats to reach a pact with Barisan Nasional for the next Melaka state election, says coalition chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.Samsuri maintained that official discussions between the two coalitions have not started, pointing out that the Melaka polls have not even been called yet, Utusan Malaysia reported."PN is also open to any form of negotiation, although no such talks have commenced yet."Since there is still time (before the state polls), there is plenty of room for discussion, whether among the PN leadership or with our friends. If they're ready to talk, we're ready too," he said.The PAS vice-president added that negotiations must prioritise the establishment of a stable state government after the election.Yesterday, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition remained open to negotiations on seat allocations for the Melaka polls, including seat swaps, provided its allies were honest and sincere.Zahid said seats won by any party must be respected and should not simply be handed over to political partners.The Umno president previously said BN intended to defend all 21 seats it won in the last Melaka state election. It currently holds 20 after Rembia assemblyman Jailani Khamis left Umno to join PAS before the state's anti-hopping law enactment came into effect.The Melaka state legislative assembly comprises a total of 28 seats.
PH communications director Fahmi Fadzil said discussions with BN covered not only the state polls but also Melaka's six parliamentary seats in the general election.KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan has held several discussions with Barisan Nasional on a possible pact for the next Melaka state election, says PH communications director Fahmi Fadzil.Fahmi said Melaka PKR chief Adam Adli has been directly in touch with state BN chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh to discuss seat negotiations for the state polls, which are expected by the end of the year."At the party level, we are identifying the suitable seats and candidates, and have also held discussions with all parties, including our friends from BN."Rauf has stated his openness to holding discussions with any party, so we welcome that. Adam informed me that he has held several discussions (with Rauf)," he told reporters at the sidelines of an event here.BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi initially said BN and Perikatan Nasional would continue their alliance in the Melaka polls after their convincing victory in the Negeri Sembilan state election.However, this appeared to reach an impasse after Zahid said BN wanted to contest the 21 seats it won in the last Melaka state election. PN contended that negotiations were ongoing.Yesterday, Zahid said BN was still open to talks on seat allocation and even exchanging seats, as long as negotiations were done honestly and sincerely.Fahmi welcomed Zahid's openness to holding seat negotiations despite previously saying it would continue its cooperation with PN in Melaka.He added that these discussions covered not only the state polls but also Melaka's six parliamentary seats in the general election.He said this was an opportunity that must be considered to ensure Melaka's political stability and safeguard the nation's interests.Fahmi added that further discussions would be left to PKR vice-president Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and PH election director Amirudin Shari.
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