Bersatu keeps door open to PH pact in Melaka, no final decision yet

MELAKA: Bersatu is still open to working with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the Melaka state election, but a meeting between leaders of the two sides last night did not produce a final agreement.

Bersatu supreme council member R. Sanjeevan said any proposals and the outcome of the discussions would have to go to the supreme council before the party decides on its partners, MalaysiaGazette reported.

He described the closed-door dinner as a chance for both sides to get to know each other and consider their direction ahead of the polls. Bersatu has also been approached by parties other than PH.

The Sept 28 meeting came after the Melaka state assembly was dissolved on Sept 23, as parties work out their alliances for the state election.

Among those present were acting Melaka PKR chairman Adam Adli Abdul Halim, Melaka Amanah chairman Datuk Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat, and Bersatu leaders from the state and national levels.

However, Bersatu information chief Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz stressed that the gathering was not a formal negotiation on an electoral pact.

Speaking to reporters, as carried by Utusan Malaysia, he said the meeting gave leaders a chance to exchange views and share their experience of contesting elections in other states.

Any willingness to talk, he said, was subject to Bersatu's founding principles and the interests of the people and state of Melaka. Formal negotiations are handled at a different leadership level from the get-to-know-you session.

Before the meeting, PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had confirmed on Sept 23 that talks with Bersatu were under way, but said no decision had been made on the form of any cooperation.

Bernama reported that Anwar had left the matter to PH election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and the coalition's election committee.

Melaka PH had earlier floated a "PH Plus" formula to work with like-minded parties, including Bersatu.

Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said on Sept 19 that the form of any cooperation would only be announced once negotiations were complete. He said then that seat allocation among PKR, DAP and Amanah had been settled, with Amanah getting eight seats.

That internal PH arrangement is separate from any deal with parties outside the coalition. Based on what leaders said after last night's meeting, no seat allocation between PH and Bersatu, or the form of any alliance for the Melaka election, has been announced.