Melaka polls: Anwar, Amirudin meet as Pakatan weighs BN pact

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 24 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim conferred with Pakatan Harapan election chief Amirudin Shari on Saturday, with a possible electoral pact with Barisan Nasional for the upcoming Melaka state polls reportedly on the table. PH communications director Fahmi Fadzil confirmed the meeting occurred, though he could not disclose the details.

Speaking to journalists after a National Day performance sponsorship event in Putrajaya, Fahmi noted coalition leaders had been holding numerous talks over the past two days. "I understand they met yesterday, but I was not told what was discussed," he reported. The idea of a combined PH-BN ticket could echo their collaboration during the six-state elections in 2023.

However, as BN has teamed up with Perikatan Nasional in recent state races in Negeri Sembilan and Johor, the exact makeup of alliances in Melaka remains uncertain. Fahmi also mentioned Anwar's speech at the PH congress in Melaka on Aug 16, where the PKR president urged reconciliation with figures like Tian Chua and Dr Xavier Jayakumar, while emphasizing internal coalition unity.

Dr Xavier has since announced his return to PKR, while Tian Chua expressed approval of the move. On the BN side, chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has stated the coalition will not engage in any automatic arrangement with Perikatan, leaving the final decision to Melaka Chief Minister and Umno-Barisan chief Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh. PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said on Friday that Perikatan and Barisan were already discussing seat allocations in Melaka, but noted that Perikatan is ready to proceed independently if Barisan opts for Pakatan instead.

Adding urgency to the race, PN chairman and Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar hinted at the possibility of the Melaka polls taking place within two months during a PAS fundraiser on Friday. He urged coalition officials to view the 60-day window as a critical battleground rather than a typical schedule, though he did not elaborate on his reasoning for the specific timeframe.

Hadi and Samsuri agreed that PN is prepared to join Melaka's next government, irrespective of the ultimate political alignment, promising equitable representation for the state's diverse communities.