BEIJING: Barisan Nasional will defend all 21 state seats it won in the previous Melaka election but remains open to negotiations over the remaining seven seats in next month's polls.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition had no intention of giving up any of the 21 seats it currently holds to other parties.
"Our principle is that the 21 seats we won are not up for sharing. If there are to be negotiations, they will only involve the other seven seats not held by BN," he told a press conference.
Zahid is on a five-day working visit to China,
The deputy prime minister, who is also Umno president, said he had authorised caretaker Melaka Chief Minister and state BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh to make the final decision on any cooperation arrangements after nomination day.
In the 2021 state election, BN won 21 of the 28 seats in the state assembly, while Pakatan Harapan secured five and Perikatan Nasional two.
The Election Commission has set Oct 31 for nomination, Nov 10 for early voting and Nov 14 for polling, following the dissolution of the state assembly on Sept 23.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd