PAKATAN Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional appear to be moving towards a crucial decision on whether to cooperate in the upcoming Melaka state election, with PH indicating that the broad direction could become clearer before Malaysia Day.
PH election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said discussions with BN were still at an exploratory stage, but several rounds of talks were expected next week before the coalition determines its next course of action.
He said the discussions would also have to be brought back to PH’s leadership for consideration before any agreement could be reached.
“It is still at the early exploration stage and we have yet to make a decision. I also need to report at the PH leadership level to prioritise any possible agreement.
“I think before Malaysia Day, there may already be an indication of the way forward or the next step in facing the Melaka election,” he said after a press conference for the 2026 Malaysian Islamic Heritage Festival in Putrajaya today.
Amirudin, who is also Selangor Menteri Besar, said the negotiations were drawing on the experiences of PH and BN working together in previous elections, as well as competing against each other in several states.
“We are having discussions and, God willing, we will try to find the best solution for everyone. We have worked with BN as a coalition in a state election. We have also competed against each other in Johor, competed in Negeri Sembilan and worked closely together in Sabah.
“We are bringing together all those experiences to benefit everyone,” he said.
However, any potential PH-BN arrangement faces a significant hurdle, with Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh making clear that the coalition intends to retain all 21 state seats it currently holds.
Rauf said the 21 seats would form BN’s “line in the sand” in any negotiations with other parties seeking electoral cooperation.
“We will not compromise on the 21 seats because that is the line in the sand for discussions. If any party wants to cooperate, they have to respect this. I welcome anyone who wants to come, but the basis of the discussion must be based on a sufficiently reasonable rationale,” he said in Alor Gajah today.
The Melaka Chief Minister said, however, that BN remained open to discussions with other political parties, although he could not make any commitments without a mandate from the UMNO supreme council.
“I cannot manage or make any decision unless I receive a mandate from the UMNO Supreme Council,” he said after the closing ceremony of the Melaka Digital Village Strategic Alignment Workshop.
The UMNO supreme council is scheduled to meet on Friday night, with the outcome potentially providing greater clarity on BN’s position ahead of further negotiations.
Amirudin said PH would respect the negotiating process and follow the mandate given by the coalition’s leadership rather than pursue individual preferences.
“Personal aspirations may differ from instructions, but what is important is that there is a request and we are discussing it, looking at certain parameters and the respective positions that must be respected,” he said.
The talks come as both coalitions assess the political landscape ahead of the Melaka election, with Prime Minister and PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously saying that any decision on electoral cooperation between PH and BN would have to be discussed by the leadership of both coalitions before being finalised.
Rauf, meanwhile, said the dissolution of the Melaka state assembly was effectively a matter of timing, hinting that the election could be called at any time.
“The election can be held at any time. There is no problem, but I have not yet been inspired about the date,” he said.
He also declined to reveal when the state assembly would be dissolved, saying he wanted to preserve an element of surprise.
“I will dissolve it when it is time to dissolve it. If I tell you now, there is no thrill. What is the point?” he said.
The contrasting positions set up a potentially difficult negotiation: while PH is signalling that a cooperation framework could emerge within weeks, BN has already established a firm condition that its 21 incumbent Melaka seats must remain under its control. - August 27, 2026
