PN appears to be increasingly sidelining its component party Bersatu, with the party once again left out of the coalition’s latest electoral negotiations with BN.
At the same time, PN is open to discussions with BN on possible cooperation in Perak, a move that could signal a significant shift in the political landscape if it materialises.
Perak BN was the first state-level BN chapter to work with PH to form a government following the GE15, predating the cooperation between the two coalitions at the federal level.
PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, in comments quoted by Berita Harian last night, confirmed that Bersatu would not be involved in the coalition’s negotiations for the upcoming Melaka state election.
However, he stressed that the discussions in Melaka would not necessarily follow the same approach taken in Negeri Sembilan, as political circumstances differ from one state to another.
“For example, we do not have any seats in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), although we have parliamentary seats in Melaka,” he said.
“All these factors will form the basis of our discussions. Whether they want to retain 20 or 21 seats, including the TakRembia seat, whose assemblyman has also joined PAS, will also be discussed,” Takiyuddin added.
The Rembia seat has undergone several changes in political allegiance. Jailani Khamis first won the constituency in 2018 as a Bersatu candidate before switching to UMNO in 2021, ahead of the state election that year.
He subsequently left UMNO and joined PAS in 2024.
Meanwhile, BN has maintained that it intends to defend 21 of the 28 DUN seats in Melaka, despite failing to secure a single parliamentary constituency in the state during GE15.
Instead, the six parliamentary constituencies were divided equally between PH and PN, with each coalition winning three seats.
The latest developments could therefore put further pressure on the relationship between PN and Bersatu, particularly as the coalition explores possible arrangements with BN ahead of upcoming state elections.—Aug 10, 2026
Main image: Utusan Malaysia
