Pakatan Harapan (PH) announced it is open to cooperating with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) for the forthcoming Melaka state election, scheduled to contest all 28 seats in the state assembly [1, 2]. PH election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said, "Bersatu? If we can accept working with Umno, surely, we can accept Bersatu," referring to past cooperation with both parties before the 2020 Sheraton Move political upheaval [2]. He emphasized the importance of stability, stating, "We do not want to repeat [the Sheraton Move], and we need to establish a stable government" [1].
PH is also prepared to negotiate seat allocations with Barisan Nasional (BN) but is waiting on policy decisions at the central levels of Umno and BN. Amirudin noted that Melaka BN chairman and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh is awaiting these decisions before formal talks on seat division can proceed [3, 4, 5]. Amirudin urged all parties to approach negotiations sincerely and avoid imposing restrictive conditions early, saying, "Don’t impose conditions before negotiations. If you say you only want to contest places you lost, it will be difficult" [3]. He recalled the concessions PH made in Selangor and Johor, where they allowed BN to contest seats previously won by PH, advocating the same sincerity in Melaka talks [4].
BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated BN plans to defend all 21 seats it won in the 2021 Melaka election but remains open to cooperation [1]. In that election, BN won 21 seats, PH 5, and Perikatan Nasional 2 [1]. Meanwhile, PAS has reportedly held preliminary talks with Umno over Melaka cooperation but excluded Bersatu from those discussions [2].
Amirudin affirmed that PH remains intact and committed to cooperation efforts with both Bersatu and BN at the Melaka polls, stressing the need to avoid past political instability [1, 3, 2]. He also conveyed that discussions are contingent on readiness from Melaka BN leadership and central party directives [3, 4, 5].
Formal negotiations on seat allocation are expected once BN and Umno central leaders finalize their policy decisions. PH’s openness to dialogue may reshape alliances ahead of the Melaka state election.
