Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN) have been urged to adopt a spirit of compromise when negotiating seat allocations for the upcoming Melaka state election if they want to sustain the momentum of the so-called ‘blue wave’.
Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan) president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said cooperation among the parties would be crucial to maintaining the political momentum seen in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, while ensuring that the broader interests of the coalition are prioritised.
He said every party would naturally seek to contest as many seats as possible, but negotiations should be approached with a wider perspective rather than focusing solely on individual party interests.
“If we truly want to work together, we need to look at the ‘blue wave’ that started in Johor and continued in Negeri Sembilan.
“If we want to maintain this wave, we must have a spirit of compromise,” he told reporters after the Wawasan Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) here on Friday.
His remarks come after BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition intended to defend all 21 seats it currently holds in Melaka. Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh had also conveyed the intention, while describing the momentum from Johor and Negeri Sembilan as something that could continue into Melaka.
Hamzah said discussions over seat distribution should be handled by the leaders of the parties involved, acknowledging that each component party would have its own ambitions and interest in contesting additional seats.
“Insya-Allah, when it comes to the aspirations of each party, naturally everyone wants more seats.
“But when we look at the bigger picture, it is not only about Melaka. We also need to take into account the situation in other states,” he said.
He added that a balanced approach would allow the parties to reach a compromise that could be maintained, particularly as cooperation between political parties would require consideration of their respective interests across different states.
Meanwhile, Hamzah, who is also the Larut Member of Parliament, said Wawasan intended to defend seats where it currently had representatives and supporters, including Bemban and Sungai Udang.
He stressed that the party’s objective was not merely to secure the opportunity to contest the seats, but also to ensure its candidates had a strong chance of winning in the coming election.
