Sanusi, Kedah Umno leaders to meet over possible political cooperation

Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor said he will meet Kedah Umno leaders today in efforts to explore possible political cooperation between the two parties.

Sanusi, who is also the PAS election director, said he expected Kedah Umno chairman Mahdzir Khalid and former menteri besar Ahmad Bashah Hanipah to attend the informal meeting.

On Sunday, Sanusi confirmed that he had obtained Kedah PAS’s approval to meet Mahdzir and Bashah to explore possible political cooperation between the two parties in the state.

“We can negotiate here and take it to the central leadership. No decision will be made here; we can only negotiate and give our justification (to the central leadership) as to why we want to contest certain seats.

“It could be because we have a strong election machinery or a good candidate … or maybe we have been working in the area for a long time, or we currently hold the seat. These can be the basis of negotiations,” Utusan quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile, Sanusi said he hoped Umno would accept his proposal to broaden seat negotiations beyond the Melaka state election, taking into account the possibility of seat swaps involving other states in future.

Sanusi said if Umno wanted to contest in PAS-controlled states such as Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu or Perlis, it should be willing to give way and allow PAS to contest seats in Melaka and other states under Umno’s control.

“If tomorrow they (Umno) want to come here or go to Kelantan or Terengganu, of course they will want seats, too. So open up the seats in Melaka first.

“If you (Umno) give four seats, perhaps (PAS) can, in return, give one seat in Kedah, one seat in Kelantan, one seat in Terengganu and one seat in Perlis.

“That is how it could work. Right now, negotiating only over Melaka will be difficult,” he said.

Sanusi also rejected the perception that PAS was seeking an equal division of seats, saying negotiations should instead be based on each party’s strengths and chances of winning.

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