Melaka BN to Defend All 21 State Seats in Upcoming Election, Says Ab Rauf

ALOR GAJAH, Aug 27 — Melaka Barisan Nasional (BN) will defend all 21 State Legislative Assembly seats won by the coalition in the previous state election, setting a firm, non-negotiable boundary for any potential electoral pacts.

Melaka BN Chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh emphasized that retaining control over the 21 seats is the foremost condition that any political party must comply with if it wishes to cooperate with BN in the upcoming state polls.

“We will not compromise on the 21 seats; that is our boundary for negotiations,” Ab Rauf told reporters after attending the Melaka Digital Kampung Directional Alignment Workshop here today.

Responding to reports that three senior PAS leaders are scheduled to hold discussions with him this week, Ab Rauf, who is also the Melaka UMNO liaison committee chairman, welcomed talks with any interested party. However, he clarified that he cannot make any unilateral decisions regarding electoral alliances without official authorization from the party leadership.

“I welcome anyone who wants to come, but the basis of the discussions must be founded on a very reasonable rationale because I cannot make any decision unless I obtain the blessing of the Supreme Council,” he added.

Addressing speculation that the Melaka State Legislative Assembly could be dissolved as early as September, Ab Rauf, who also serves as Melaka Chief Minister, stated that an election could be triggered at any time ahead of the state government’s term expiration on Dec 31. He remarked that the assembly would be dissolved when the time is right, adding that revealing a specific date prematurely would eliminate the element of surprise.

Melaka comprises 28 state legislative seats. During the 15th Melaka state election, BN formed the state government after securing a comfortable majority of 21 seats, while Pakatan Harapan won five seats and Perikatan Nasional secured two.

–NMT