{
  "id": 5281292,
  "title": "Akmal maintains stance to sit out Melaka polls if BN, PH cooperate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/akmal-maintains-stance-to-sit-out-melaka-polls-if-bn-ph-cooperate",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T07:35:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1524942/akmal-maintains-stance-sit-out-melaka-polls-if-bn-ph-cooperate"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kota Baru: Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh has reaffirmed his decision not to contest the Melaka election if Barisan Nasional agrees to cooperate with Pakatan Harapan. As the Umno Youth chief, Akmal stated he would not forgo his principles to secure a position. His stance remains consistent from the past, present, and future: he will not cooperate with the PH if BN adopts the same approach. Akmal emphasized that fighting for a cause mandates maintaining principles, and he would not compromise them for a seat. His stance applies not only to the state assemblyman position but also to his role as the Umno Youth chief. During a press conference, he recalled his previous call for Umno to transition into the opposition but acknowledged the party's decision to remain part of the unity government until the end of the parliamentary term. Despite respecting this decision, Akmal reiterated his stance against contesting the Melaka polls if BN and PH cooperate. Earlier, Akmal joined other BN representatives, including Umno Youth leaders, at the Pas Youth Congress, expressing support for the Pas Youth Council in uniting the Muslim community. He highlighted that the theme of the Pas Youth Malaysia aligns closely with that of Umno Youth, both aiming for ummah unity.",
  "summary": "KOTA BARU: Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh has maintained his stance that he will not contest as a candidate if Barisan Nasional decides to cooperate with Pakatan Harapan in the upcoming Melaka election.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "This is Umno Youth’s stance, Akmal says on pledge to skip Melaka polls",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/this-is-umno-youths-stance-akmal-says-on-pledge-to-skip-melaka-polls",
        "published": "2026-09-03T06:50:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}