Pas to Negotiate Melaka Election Seats with UMNO, Excluding Bersatu

The Malaysian Islamic Party (Pas) has confirmed that negotiations for seat distribution for the upcoming Melaka state election will commence shortly with the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Notably, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will not be involved in these specific discussions, signaling a potential new political alignment ahead of the polls.

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Di pihak Pas, telah diputuskan kita masih lagi dibenarkan untuk berunding ataupun diminta untuk berunding dengan UMNO mengikut kedudukan kerusi itu.

Pas Secretary-General Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan stated that Pas has been given the space to negotiate with UMNO based on the positions of the seats to be contested. These discussions will occur through direct meetings, a method previously employed by Pas in its seat allocation talks with UMNO. "In Pas's view, we are still allowed to negotiate or are asked to negotiate with UMNO according to the seat positions," Takiyuddin said after chairing a meeting in Kelantan.

Takiyuddin further elaborated that the seat division in Melaka does not necessarily have to follow the same concept used in Negeri Sembilan, as the political landscape and seat positions differ between the two states. The ongoing negotiations will take into account the results of the Melaka state election in December 2021 and the 15th General Election (GE15) in 2022. He pointed out that in the 2021 Melaka polls, Pas did not win any seats under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner, while PN secured two seats, both won by Bersatu.

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Rundingan itu dilakukan menerusi pertemuan secara langsung dan sebelum ini Pas tidak menggunakan surat dalam urusan rundingan kerusi dengan UMNO. Jadi, di Melaka kita gunakan kaedah yang sama.

An interesting point of discussion will be the Rumbia seat, currently held by a representative who joined Pas after winning it under UMNO. Takiyuddin explained that this situation arose before the anti-party hopping law was enacted. The negotiations will determine whether this seat is considered an UMNO seat despite the incumbent joining Pas, or if it will be allocated to Pas. Additionally, parliamentary seat results from GE15, where Pas won two out of six parliamentary seats in Melaka while Bersatu, PKR, DAP, and Amanah each won one, will also serve as a basis for discussion.

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Jadi, itu pun benda-benda yang akan kita bincangkan. Adakah dia itu menjadi kerusi UMNO juga walaupun dia masuk Pas, ataupun kerusi itu akan dianggap kerusi Pas? Itu dalam perundinganlah, kita belum putus lagi.