Barisan Nasional and PAS have finalised a seat-sharing deal for the Melaka state election, with BN taking 21 seats and PAS and allies seven.
PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS have finalised an electoral agreement for the upcoming Melaka state election, with the two sides agreeing to divide the state’s 28 legislative seats between them.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that the coalition would contest 21 seats, leaving the remaining seven to PAS and its political allies.
According to media reports, Zahid announced the agreement after attending the Melaka Bermunajat programme at Masjid Salmah Khamis in Masjid Tanah tonight.
“Barisan Nasional will contest 21 seats, while they and their allies will contest seven seats. That is the final decision I wish to share,” he was quoted as saying.
The deputy prime minister also confirmed that BN would unveil its candidates this Saturday, marking another step in the coalition’s preparations for the state election.
The agreement formalises electoral cooperation between BN and PAS ahead of the state polls, although Zahid did not identify which parties would join PAS in contesting the seven allocated seats.
The pact follows weeks of increasingly open discussions between the two parties, with Zahid indicating previously that BN would defend all 21 seats it won in 2021 while leaving the remaining seven open for negotiations with Perikatan Nasional (PN) component parties.
The political realignment comes just a day after the Registrar of Societies cancelled PN’s registration on Oct 20 following internal disputes involving PAS and Bersatu, throwing the opposition coalition’s electoral arrangements into uncertainty.
In the 2021 Melaka election, BN secured a commanding majority with 21 seats, while Pakatan Harapan won five and PN captured two.
The Melaka state assembly was dissolved on Sept 23, paving the way for the state’s 16th election.
The Election Commission has fixed Oct 31 for nominations, Nov 10 for early voting and Nov 14 for polling day.