Retorik penyatuan ummah BN-PN lenyap di Melaka kerana ‘tamak’, kata Puad

Former Umno Chief Minister Puad Zarkashi has criticized the unity discourse between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the Melaka state election results, labelling it as "false unity" rhetoric. In a Facebook post, Puad, a former Rengit Adun, said that the unity rhetoric from BN and PN in the two previous PRN campaigns has now vanished due to greed for more seats in the Melaka PRN.

He pointed out that when greed for more seats arises, the tone of BN and PN has changed. Meanwhile, PAS had previously stated that the cooperation model in Melaka would not be the same as in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, while BN claimed a desire to retain all 21 seats they won in the 2021 Melaka PRN. After winning two states, BN stated the only existing unity is the competition for seats, questioning how unity can be achieved otherwise.

The unity narrative has disappeared overnight, he added, describing it as false unity rhetoric. BN and PN, he said, have made the Malay unity issue a cornerstone of their political campaign, and BN has now won 18 seats while PN has taken seven seats, giving the alliance a two-thirds majority in the Melaka DUN. BN President Zahid Hamidi stated that BN aims to retain all 21 seats won in Melaka, although he previously said cooperation with PN would continue in the upcoming PRN, which is expected to be held later this year.

PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang downplayed the issue, saying initial talks on seat distribution are still ongoing. Meanwhile, Wawasan Hamzah Zainudin, PN President, urged both alliances to adopt a more reciprocal approach in seat sharing negotiations.