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MELAKA – Melaka Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh respects DAP’s intention to contest eight seats in the upcoming Melaka state election.
The Melaka Chief Minister said BN had no right to prevent or interfere in the party’s affairs.
He said all parties had the right to determine which seats they wanted to contest, as long as no formal cooperation between the two parties had been established under BN Plus.
“Melaka’s seats are open to any party that wishes to contest them.
“Before any negotiations take place with us, they are free to express their respective intentions. It will depend on future discussions, and we will announce the outcome later,” he said when met at the launch of the Powering Knowledge STEM Discovery @ School 2026 programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tanjong Bidara on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Melaka DAP chairman Khoo Poay Tiong announced that the party intended to contest eight seats in the state election.
The seats include the four currently held by DAP — Bandar Hilir, Kesidang, Kota Laksamana and Ayer Keroh — as well as Duyong, Bemban, Pengkalan Batu and Gadek.
Ab Rauf said BN had yet to finalise its coalition partners for the upcoming state election.
Asked about DAP’s intention to contest the Duyong seat, Ab Rauf said he did not interfere in the affairs of other parties.
“As I said earlier, that is up to them. DAP can contest wherever it likes.
“I cannot forbid them because I am looking after my own party’s interests. I do not look after the interests of other parties,” he said.
He said the political landscape in Melaka remained open and that any party had the right to express its intentions.
“Only when there is an agreement between the two parties can we make a decision.
“If they want to contest 10 or 20 seats, that is entirely up to them. It is their party. I am protecting my party’s interests,” he added.
