Melaka Bersatu open to exploring cooperation with PH

Melaka Bersatu is ready to hold talks with parties that share common ground, particularly Pakatan Harapan, to explore some form of understanding ahead of the state election.

The development comes amid talk of a political realignment between PAS and fellow Perikatan Nasional (PN) member parties and Barisan Nasional.

“The experience and the election results in Negeri Sembilan and Johor will certainly be among the factors that the state and central leaderships need to seriously evaluate.

“For the party’s survival and future, all options must be studied rationally and with an open mind,” Melaka Bersatu information chief Hishamuddin Abdul Karim told FMT.

He said Melaka Bersatu was open to discussions or forms of political cooperation that served the party’s strategic interests while offering the people a better option.

“Any such discussions, if they take place, should be viewed as part of a mature and pragmatic political process,” he said.

However, he said cooperation should not involve parties that had betrayed the trust and spirit of cooperation previously built in PN.

“Any negotiations, understanding or political cooperation involving Bersatu will be subject to the wisdom and decision of the president and the party’s central leadership,” he added.

Hishamuddin said Bersatu had gone through various political hurdles and was facing an increasingly dynamic political landscape.

He also said that Bersatu had begun mobilising its election machinery early to prepare for the Melaka election.

He said Bersatu divisions had been asked to prepare comprehensive reports on the strength of their election machinery, the local political landscape, potential candidates and proposed seats for assessment.

Asked whether Bersatu would use its own logo, as it did in Negeri Sembilan, Hishamuddin said the Melaka chapter was prepared to contest the state election under whatever arrangement the party decided.

The Melaka state assembly must seek a new mandate by February next year.

In the last Melaka election, Bersatu won two of the 28 state seats it contested under the PN banner, namely Bemban and Sungai Udang.

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