Hamzah: BN-Perikatan seat talks must go beyond Melaka, allow room for compromise

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN) must devise a nationwide seat allocation plan and be willing to make concessions for their coalition to endure, stated Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin in an interview with news outlet Free Malaysia Today. The Parti Wawasan president emphasized that the two alliances cannot confine discussions to the upcoming Melaka election or solely defend their existing seats.

“If we aim for collaboration, it cannot be a matter of pick and choose,” he remarked. Parti Wawasan, a PN component since June with PAS backing, suggested the strategy should factor in both parties' strengths and weaknesses nationwide, starting from incumbency but refined through a more adaptable formula. This was essential to ensure confidence among BN and PN leaders and constituents, beyond merely safeguarding certain parties or states.

“If we only examine our current standing (seats held by each coalition), we would naturally wish to protect it,” he said. “But if we consider the bigger objective, we must convene, compromise, and concede.” Hamzah proposed BN and PN should also evaluate states where Umno currently holds no state seats for nationwide cooperation.

His comments followed BN and PN's joint performance in the August 1 Negeri Sembilan election, where they secured 25 of the 36 seats. The push for broader cooperation follows the expected call for the Melaka state election before the assembly's term concludes at the end of December. Hamzah noted that BN and PN previously formed federal governments together under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, but those arrangements lacked prior planning.

He argued that future collaboration should commence with a shared agenda and clearly defined roles, aiming to uplift the nation and benefit Malaysians.