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SHAH ALAM – Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has called for immediate preparations for the upcoming Melaka state election, while expressing his personal support for Barisan Nasional (BN) continuing its electoral cooperation with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Ahmad said the cooperation had helped prevent vote splitting and should be maintained, citing the alliance’s outcomes in Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
However, he stressed that the view expressed was his personal opinion based on his current roles as BN Secretariat War Room chief and an Umno Supreme Council member and should not be regarded as the party’s official position.
He added that he was no longer the party’s secretary-general and therefore was not in a position to make official decisions or announcements.
"In my view, the cooperation between BN and PN in Johor resulted in what I would describe as a partial agreement. Although PN contested 11 seats under its own banner, its leaders encouraged voters to support BN in the constituencies where it was not contesting.
"In Melaka, however, there was a full agreement. BN contested 25 seats, while the remaining 11 were allocated to PN, avoiding any split in votes. The outcome was 25 seats won, comprising 18 by BN and seven by PN.
“Had both parties contested against each other, I believe they would not have secured those 25 seats. For that reason, I believe the cooperation should continue in Melaka.
“Pakatan Harapan (PH) was the coalition that initially withdrew from the Melaka state government, so I do not consider BN to be at fault for not working with PH.
"Therefore, I believe negotiations with the PN remain necessary and that both parties should continue working together in Melaka," he said at Karangkraf Media Group in Section 15, Shah Alam, after attending Sinar's Interviu programme.
Ahmad said preparations for the Melaka state election should begin immediately, with several important party meetings expected to be held before the anticipated dissolution of the state assembly.
He said based on an announcement by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, the election is expected to take place before December, with December being the latest possible timeframe.
He added that the decision on the election date remains under the Chief Minister’s administration after consultations with Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and that he does not have the exact date at this stage.
"However, there are several important milestones ahead. The Umno Supreme Council will meet in August, where this matter is expected to be discussed, followed by the 2026 Umno General Assembly in September.
“I believe preparations for the Melaka state election should begin now and continue after the Umno general assembly," he said.
Ahmad's remarks come as speculation grows over the timing of the Melaka polls, following BN and PN's decisive victory in the Negeri Sembilan state election, where the alliance secured a two-thirds majority to end PH's two-term administration.
