PN tanding semua kerusi DUN Melaka jika rundingan dengan BN gagal

Perikatan Nasional (PN), in conjunction with the Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan), may contest the entire DUN (Dewan Undangan Negeri) in Melaka independently if negotiations with Barisan Nasional (BN) fail, according to PN Deputy President Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik. However, he added that there is still a possibility of negotiations to form a collaboration between BN and PN, even though no formal decisions have been made yet.

"If BN refuses to work with us and wants to go it alone, we will also collaborate with PAS, MIPP, and Gerakan. We will also contest the entire DUN in Melaka," he said, according to Utusan Malaysia. Moreover, as a former Menteri Besar of Melaka, Wawasan also plans to contest the Bemban and Sungai Udang DUN seats regardless of whether a collaboration with BN occurs during the elections.

Both seats were previously won by Bersatu, which remains part of the PN but now has a strained relationship with PAS, the leading party in the coalition. The Utusan Malaysia also quoted a source stating that the Melaka State Council (MMKN) meeting, usually held on Wednesday, has been postponed by one day, sparking speculation that the DUN in Melaka may be dissolved this week.

The source also said that Melaka's Yang di-Pertua Negara, Ali Rustam, has already signed a notice for dissolution last weekend as he is currently abroad for official duties. BN has mandated the BN Melaka chief and Deputy Menteri Besar, Rahim Yusoh, to negotiate with any party for cooperation in the upcoming polls for the Melaka DUN.

PN Deputy President Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik stated that coalition partners chosen must be sincere and honest. Zahid Hamidi also said that formal negotiations would only begin after the DUN in Melaka is dissolved. Before that, Zahid had previously said that BN and PN would work together in the PRN Melaka following their victory in two-thirds of the seats in the PRN of Negeri Sembilan.