PAS remains firm in rejecting cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the upcoming Melaka state election, while remaining open to various forms of political cooperation to pursue its electoral objectives.
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party’s central leadership and election machinery were continuing negotiations over seat allocations with its political partners, despite the polling date not yet being announced.
“What is important is that Melaka should be led by Malay Muslims. We reject Pakatan Harapan,” he told reporters after delivering a kuliah duha at Masjid Rusila on Friday.
The Melaka Legislative Assembly was dissolved on September 23 to pave the way for the state election.
On seat negotiations, Abdul Hadi said he did not expect disputes over seat allocations to become a major problem, as discussions were being conducted amicably.
He said the number of seats PAS would contest had yet to be finalised as negotiations with its allies were still ongoing.
Abdul Hadi also said PAS was prepared to use its own moon symbol if cooperation with Barisan Nasional (BN) continued while the Perikatan Nasional (PN) logo remained subject to restrictions.
“The PAS logo can also be used. There is no problem,” he said, adding that the matter was still being considered.
The issue over the PN logo arose after the Registrar of Societies (RoS) ordered the suspension of all PN activities under Section 13(2A) of the Societies Act 1966. PN has been considering the use of a component party’s logo if its own symbol cannot be used for the Melaka election.
Abdul Hadi also said the decision on cooperation with BN was ultimately up to the coalition’s state leadership, amid reports of ongoing discussions.
He claimed that sentiment among BN grassroots supporters appeared generally positive towards cooperation with PAS, saying the party would consider such cooperation through negotiations.
“If BN wants cooperation, we agree. Everything is through discussion,” he said.
The form of any BN-PAS cooperation, including seat allocations and the logo to be used, has not been finalised. BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi previously said the coalition was still discussing possible partnerships ahead of the Melaka polls.
