Something next week? Amirudin signals movement in Pakatan-Bersatu talks for Melaka polls

PETALING JAYA, Oct 1 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) could see a development in its talks with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia as early as next week, its election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said today, as the coalition weighs its options ahead of the Melaka state election.

Amirudin said PH remained in discussions with various parties and had not ruled out cooperation with Barisan Nasional (BN), with all possibilities still on the table.

“By next week, I think we may have something,” he said when asked specifically about the progress of discussions between PH and Bersatu, according to Berita Harian.

The Selangor menteri besar said PH’s immediate priority in the negotiations was securing electoral success, but stressed that any arrangement would also have to serve the interests of the people.

“For now, I see all possibilities as still open, and the door to negotiations also remains open.

“We are negotiating with all parties, but the priority is very simple. The first priority, of course, is victory for our side, and every party also has its own interests.

“Secondly, it is about the extent to which the interests of the people can be addressed through the coalition that we form,” he told reporters after officiating the opening of Sunway Medical Centre Damansara.

Amirudin said political stability would be another important consideration in deciding what form any electoral cooperation should take, arguing that it was needed to support economic recovery and allow the government to respond effectively to crises.

“Political stability must be a priority for every coalition that we want to form. The second consideration is what benefits it brings to the people, particularly how we want to help the poor, address housing policies and so on.

“Thirdly, of course, it must produce a situation that benefits all parties,” he said.

He added that negotiations should not simply be about winning seats, but should also take into account whether the parties involved could find common ground on policy.

“We are opening the space for discussions. At the moment, I appear to be receiving various reactions from leaders.

“However, as head of the election machinery, what I can confirm is that we are holding discussions and trying to reach decisions and solutions that can be accepted by every coalition involved. So, all possibilities remain open,” he said.

PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on September 23 that no decision had yet been made on the form of political cooperation for the Melaka election and confirmed that discussions had taken place with Bersatu. He had tasked Amirudin with handling the negotiations.

The 28-seat Melaka state assembly was dissolved on September 23 to pave the way for the 16th state election. The Election Commission will hold a special meeting on October 7 to determine key dates, including nomination and polling day.