Melaka Amanah chief denies PH closed door on pact with BN

Melaka Amanah chief Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat has denied a party colleague’s statement that Pakatan Harapan (PH) closed the door on cooperation with Barisan Nasional (BN) for the Melaka polls.

Ashraf said Amanah communications director Khalid Samad was merely airing his personal view in saying that PH would not join forces with BN for the state election.

He said PH was keeping the door open to the possibility of an alliance, including with BN or Bersatu, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“With BN, it’s still in the process (of discussion). We’ll wait for the final decision, which will not be made by us in Melaka but the national PH leadership.

“For Melaka Amanah, we’ve worked with all parties in the past, so we won’t find it awkward to work with any of them. If they reach out, we’ll see what terms they have and what form of pact they have in mind,” he said.

On Tuesday, Khalid said PH was open to working with any party except BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN).

In response, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said BN’s doors remained open to all parties, including PH.

BN has not committed to an alliance with any party for the Melaka polls, despite coalition chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi initially saying they would join forces with PN again.

Zahid made the statement the night that the BN-PN alliance secured a two-thirds majority in the Negeri Sembilan state election on Aug 1.

Bersatu has separately said it will not cooperate with any party in the Melaka polls, including PH.