Cooperation between PAS and UMNO ahead of the Melaka state election is increasingly taking shape, with negotiations between the two parties reportedly 90 per cent complete.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the negotiations had progressed well, with discussions now focused on finalising the distribution of seats.
He stressed that there was no overlap between the PAS-UMNO negotiations and any discussions UMNO might have with other parties, saying both sides understood the current process.
“The negotiating committee between PAS and UMNO is progressing very well towards reaching an understanding. We have conducted negotiations and almost 90 per cent has been completed. After this, it will be brought to the respective party levels for confirmation,” he said.
Tuan Ibrahim said UMNO had the right to negotiate with other parties, but maintained that the PAS-UMNO discussions were already underway and there was no issue of overlapping negotiations.
He said the basic formula would see parties retaining seats they won in the previous state election, while negotiations would focus on between six and 10 seats that had not previously been won by either side.
UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) had previously expressed their intention to defend all 21 of the 28 Melaka state seats they currently hold. At the 2021 Melaka state election, BN won 21 seats, while Pakatan Harapan secured five and Perikatan Nasional won two.
Tuan Ibrahim said PAS was prepared to allow the party that previously won a seat to defend it, similar to the approach taken in Negeri Sembilan, while seats not previously won by UMNO, BN or PN would be subject to negotiations.
He also said cooperation between PAS and UMNO could affect the distribution of seats involving DAP, citing the political cooperation seen in Negeri Sembilan as an example.
“Everything can be resolved through discussions. Melaka has its own formula, Negeri Sembilan has its own method, and so will the SG4 states later. For now, our focus is Melaka,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim said the PAS Syura Council meeting had also focused on finalising the party’s list of potential candidates for the Melaka election.
The council, chaired by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Hashim Jasin, approved the proposed lists submitted by the PAS Melaka state liaison body after reviewing the backgrounds of the candidates.
Two to three names had been submitted for each state constituency for consideration.
