Seat talks must be on national basis, says Amanah
PETALING JAYA : Amanah has urged for seat negotiations between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in Melaka to be based on the coalitions' national partnership, instead of being focussed on the state alone.
Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said it is not right to conduct negotiations in Melaka without considering the distribution of seats nationwide and in other states, Sinar Harian reported.
'For example, we have given seats to BN in Selangor (in the August 2023 state election). As such, BN should also make way for PH in Melaka.
'If negotiations are only focussed on one state, they will ask for more when it comes to other states,' he was quoted as saying.
Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh recently rejected a proposal from nine Melaka DAP branches for PH and BN to contest 14 seats each in the upcoming state election, telling DAP to 'dream on' after the matter was reported by China Press, a local daily.
However, he misinterpreted the report as saying that the proposal was made by nine DAP divisions rather than branches.
Melaka DAP publicity secretary Kerk Chee Yee clarified that this was merely a grassroots proposal by the branches and that the state chapter had yet to discuss the matter.
The Melaka assembly has 28 seats, 20 of which are held by BN, five by PH and three by Perikatan Nasional.
Khalid said the coalitions in the unity government must ensure nobody feels slighted in negotiations for nationwide seat distribution.
'We do not want (a situation in which) only one party benefits while the other has to give way. Negotiations need a give-and-take spirit for the sake of the unity government's stability,' he said.
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