Pakatan Harapan (PH) election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has been entrusted to lead talks on potential cooperation and seat allocation with Barisan Nasional (BN) for the upcoming Melaka state election. PH chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed the appointment following a meeting with Amirudin on Sunday, August 23, 2026. "We have entrusted it to Amirudin," Anwar said, emphasizing the role given to him after the meeting [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The PH election committee, co-led by Amirudin and PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, will oversee discussions on cooperation with BN for the Melaka polls. Saifuddin did not rule out a potential meeting with Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh to discuss cooperation once Ab Rauf returns from a working trip to New Zealand [2, 3, 5].
PH communications director Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil confirmed Amirudin's meeting with Anwar on August 23 amid ongoing talks related to seat allocations for the Melaka election [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Anwar reiterated the importance of collaboration in politics, stating, "Room for cooperation... In life, we must cooperate. This is all about cooperation." He added, "There is always room for cooperation. In this life, we have to cooperate. It is all about cooperation" [1, 5].
However, there are differing accounts of the August 23 meeting’s primary purpose. Some sources reported the meeting focused on PH-BN cooperation and seat talks for Melaka, while others noted Anwar said the meeting mostly concerned coordination related to the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma). Anwar clarified, "I met the Selangor menteri besar regarding Sukma. During the Games, when would there be time for politics?" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Anwar officially confirmed Amirudin’s role leading PH-BN cooperation talks on August 25 after attending the National Maulidur Rasul celebration [1, 4, 5]. Following Ab Rauf’s return from New Zealand, a meeting between Saifuddin and Ab Rauf for further cooperation discussions may take place [2, 3].
