Melaka BN Firm On Defending 21 Seats In State Polls

ALOR GAJAH, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Melaka Barisan Nasional (BN) will defend all 21 State Legislative Assembly seats won by the coalition in the upcoming state election.

Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, stressing the matter, said it was non-negotiable and the foremost condition that any party must comply with if it wished to cooperate with the coalition in the upcoming state election.

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

Responding to reports that three PAS senior leaders were expected to hold discussions with him this week, Ab Rauf, who is also Melaka UMNO liaison committee chairman, said he welcomed any party that wished to hold negotiations.

“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 (MT),” he said.

Asked about speculation that the Melaka State Legislative Assembly would be dissolved this September, Ab Rauf, who is also Melaka Chief Minister, said it could happen “at any time”.

“The election can be held at any time, there is no problem, it is just that I have not received any inspiration about the date yet. I will dissolve the assembly when the time comes. If I tell you now, there will be no ‘thrill’,” he said.

Melaka has 28 state seats and in the 15th Melaka state election, BN formed the state government after winning 21 seats, followed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) with five seats and Perikatan Nasional (PN) with two.

The term of the Melaka state government will expire on Dec 31.

-- BERNAMA