Zahid: BN to keep 21 Melaka seats, leave remaining seven for talks with PN parties

Barisan Nasional (BN) is firm on retaining the 21 seats it won in the previous Melaka state election, leaving the remaining seven constituencies open for negotiation among Perikatan Nasional's (PN) parties ahead of the upcoming polls.

BN Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasized the coalition's stance on seat retention and potential seat swaps while downplaying prospects for cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh is tasked with finalizing BN's electoral strategy, with decisions expected before the nomination day on October 31.

The Melaka election is set for November 14, following BN's commanding victory in 2021.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — Barisan Nasional (BN) has said it will retain the 21 seats it won in the previous Melaka state election, leaving Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) component parties to negotiate over the remaining seven constituencies as discussions over electoral cooperation continue ahead of next month’s polls.

BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition was holding talks with PN’s core parties following the suspension of activities by the Opposition coalition, but made clear that BN had no intention of giving up the seats it currently holds.

“Our principle is that the 21 seats we won are not seats that we intend to share,” he told reporters in Beijing today, according to The Star .

“If there is to be any sharing, it may involve seat swaps, but those 21 seats will remain ours.

“Any negotiations will concern the seven remaining seats that are not held by Barisan.

“It will be up to the other parties to decide how they distribute those seats among themselves.”

The deputy prime minister is in China on a five-day working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, technology and vocational education. Earlier today, he held talks with Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang in Beijing.

Zahid also suggested that the prospect of cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), BN’s partner in the federal unity government, had diminished.

He said statements by PH leaders at both national and state levels indicated that the coalition had lost interest in working with BN for the Melaka election.

“We respect that position,” he said.

Zahid added that Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh had been entrusted with making the final decision on BN’s electoral cooperation in the state.

The coalition is expected to announce its decision before nomination day on October 31.

The latest remarks follow comments by Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki on October 13 that BN was in the final stages of seat negotiations, with the coalition determined to defend all 21 constituencies it secured in the previous state election.

BN secured a commanding majority in the November 2021 Melaka election, winning 21 of the 28 state assembly seats, while PH took five and PN two.

The Election Commission has fixed November 14 as polling day for the 16th Melaka state election, with nominations scheduled for October 31.

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国民阵线（国阵）决心保住上次马六甲州选举中赢得的 21 个席位，其余 7 个选区将留给国民联盟（国盟）各党派在即将到来的选举中进行谈判。

国阵主席拿督斯里阿末扎希哈米迪强调了国阵在保住议席和潜在议席交换问题上的立场，同时淡化了与希望联盟（PH）合作的前景。

马六甲首席部长拿督斯里阿布·拉乌夫·尤索负责敲定国阵的选举策略，预计将在10月31日提名日之前做出决定。

马六甲州选举定于11月14日举行，此前国阵在2021年取得了压倒性胜利。

吉隆坡，10 月 15 日讯——国民阵线（国阵）表示，将保留在上届马六甲州选举中赢得的 21 个席位，而国民联盟（国盟）的成员党则需就剩余的 7 个选区进行谈判，因为在下个月的选举之前，有关选举合作的讨论仍在继续。

国阵主席拿督斯里阿末扎希表示，在反对党联盟暂停活动后，国阵正在与国民联盟的核心政党进行谈判，但他明确表示，国阵无意放弃目前所拥有的席位。

据《星报》报道，他今天在北京对记者说：“我们的原则是，我们赢得的21个席位不是我们打算与他人分享的席位。”

“如果一定要共享座位，可能会涉及换座，但这 21 个座位仍将属于我们。”

“任何谈判都将涉及国阵尚未占据的剩余七个席位。

“其他政党将自行决定如何分配这些席位。”

副总理正在中国进行为期五天的工作访问，旨在加强双边在贸易、投资、技术和职业教育领域的合作。今天早些时候，他在北京与中国国务院副总理丁学祥举行了会谈。

扎希德还暗示，与国阵在联邦联合政府中的合作伙伴希望联盟（PH）合作的前景已经黯淡。

他表示，希望联盟在国家和州两级的领导人发表的声明表明，该联盟已经失去了与国阵合作参加马六甲州选举的兴趣。

他说：“我们尊重这一立场。”

扎希德补充说，马六甲首席部长拿督斯里阿布·拉乌夫·尤索夫已被委托对国阵在该州的选举合作做出最终决定。

预计该联盟将在10月31日提名日之前宣布其决定。

此前，巫统秘书长拿督阿斯拉夫·瓦吉迪·杜苏基于10月13日表示，国阵已进入议席谈判的最后阶段，该联盟决心捍卫其在上届州选举中获得的全部21个选区。

在 2021 年 11 月的马六甲州选举中，国阵获得了绝对多数席位，赢得了 28 个州议会席位中的 21 个，而希望联盟获得了 5 个席位，国盟获得了 2 个席位。

选举委员会已确定11月14日为第16届马六甲州选举的投票日，提名日期定于10月31日。

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