Strong BN-PN pact needs early deal on seats, PM candidate

A BN-PN alliance would be stronger if both coalitions establish a common plan and agenda from the beginning, according to Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin. The distribution of seats and selection of the prime ministerial candidate are among the key issues that need to be resolved early to forge a stronger alliance ahead of the 16th general election, said analyst Tawfik Yaakub of Universiti Malaya.

He emphasized the importance of early decision-making on these matters as elections involve complex factors such as 222 parliamentary seats and the interests of parties nationally and at the state level. Tawfik pointed out that if PN and BN are to take their cooperation to the next level in the 2026 election, they must decide on their prime ministerial candidate, seat distribution, and common policies in advance.

The deputy chairman of PN, Razaleigh Hamzah, echoed this sentiment, stressing that the previous BN-PN governments were formed without advance planning, making it difficult to build mutual trust. Hamzah highlighted that the seat allocation formula acceptable to both sides should be decided early and should not be limited to the Melaka state election.

BN and PN previously allied in the federal government from March 2020 to November 2022, under Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Their partnership also resurfaced in the recent Negeri Sembilan state election, where they secured 25 out of the 36 state seats and formed the state government. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara emphasized the need for finalizing seat negotiations and a political understanding before the 16th general election to prevent conflicts from being addressed only after results are known.

He warned that forming a government ad hoc after an election could result in cooperation under "forced" circumstances, leading to dissatisfaction among the parties involved.