Don't quarrel this early, polls not even called yet, says Ahmad Maslan

ALOR GAJAH – Barisan Nasional (BN) should not compromise on the 21 state assembly seats it won in the 2021 Melaka state election as these form the coalition's base of strength heading into the next polls.

UMNO supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the position was in line with the decision of UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that BN must defend all the seats it had won, while the remaining seven seats could be discussed through negotiations with its partners.

He said the recent experience of political cooperation in the Negeri Sembilan state election proved that open and prudent negotiations could produce an understanding that delivered victory for the coalition of parties.

"We are very happy with the consensus achieved in Negeri Sembilan and I hope that spirit can be continued in Melaka.

"When BN contests 21 seats, it means there are still seven seats that can be negotiated. Many things can be resolved through negotiation and that is the best approach.

"Don't quarrel this early. The election has not even been announced. Maybe October, maybe November — it is only August now.

"Whatever can be negotiated, we will negotiate. Don't get carried away with statements that in the end only benefit the opposing side," he told a press conference after an official working visit to the Alor Gajah district Public Works Department (JKR) engineer's office here today. (Quotes translated from Malay)

He was commenting on Ahmad Zahid's statement that BN Melaka should defend 21 of the 28 state seats it won in the 2021 Melaka polls as the basis for negotiations ahead of the coming state election.

Ahmad said the good understanding in Negeri Sembilan should be replicated in Melaka because any issue could be settled through negotiations rather than being aired on social media.

He was also responding to statements by several PAS leaders questioning BN's intention to defend the 21 state seats in Melaka, while urging all parties not to issue statements that could disrupt inter-party discussions.

It was still too early, he said, for any party to make statements that could spark polemics given that the date of the Melaka state election had yet to be announced.

He cautioned that statements attacking one another would only give Pakatan Harapan (PH) room to manipulate the situation.

"If we keep issuing statements against each other, the other side will surely applaud. That is why I hope all parties will stay calm and give room for the negotiation process," he said.