Will PAS be as generous with seats in Melaka?
Ilham Centre research chief Yusri Ibrahim says both Umno and PAS have reason to argue that they are in the stronger position.
Whether the People’s Action Party (PAS) will be as accommodating with state seats in Melaka remains uncertain, according to an analyst. PAS had vowed to contest 16 out of 28 Melaka state seats in the 2021 election, including Tanjung Bidara held by BN chief Ab Rauf Yusoh.
Analyst Yusri Ibrahim posited that cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in Melaka could be more complex than in Johor and Negeri Sembilan due to PAS’s desire to retain a supportive role. In the 2021 ballot, Umno led BN to a decisive victory, securing the majority of seats and forming the state government. However, after the 2022 general election, BN lost all six parliamentary seats in Melaka, with PN winning three, PAS capturing Tangga Batu and Jasin, and Bersatu taking Masjid Tanah.
PN now leads BN by ten seats to four in parliamentary votes, making PN the stronger force over BN, while PAS is deemed stronger than Umno. This dynamic raises questions on PAS’s willingness to continue matching BN’s seat-sharing with Umno. PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang suggested BN and PN could explore alternative arrangements for Melaka’s upcoming polls, even though BN holds 20 seats and Umno-led coalition holds none.
Ab Rauf Yusoh, BN chairman, remained open to BN Plus cooperation but stressed that discussions would hinge on each party’s position.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
