Don't rely on past polls for BN-PN seat formula, says Kedah Umno

Kedah Umno says the results of the last state election should not be the sole basis for deciding a seat allocation formula or the form of cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the state.

Kedah Umno leader Shaiful said the political landscape and voter sentiment change rapidly, making it unsuitable to rely on previous election results alone.

"The seat allocation formula must be based on current circumstances and realities. The results of the last state election should not be the only basis for determining any formula," he told FMT.

He was commenting on the issue of seat allocation between BN and PN in Kedah should the understanding reached between the two coalitions in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections be extended to other states.

FMT previously reported political analyst Mazlan Ali as saying that the biggest test of BN-PN ties would be in PAS strongholds, including Kedah. The Universiti Teknologi Malaysia academic highlighted the challenge of seat negotiations given that BN does not hold any parliamentary or state seats in Kedah.

In the 2023 Kedah state election, BN, which contested in cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), failed to win a single seat. PN, led by its election director Sanusi Nor, won 33 of the 36 seats in the Kedah state assembly, while PH secured the remaining three.

Shaiful said Kedah Umno was, for now, adopting a "wait-and-see" approach to the possibility of working with PN.

"To date, no discussions have taken place, and Kedah Umno has yet to receive any directive from the party's top leadership.

"However, if instructed, Kedah Umno has no issue cooperating within whatever framework is decided upon," he said.

BN and PN worked together in the Negeri Sembilan state election before forming the state government after the two coalitions won 25 of the 36 state assembly seats.