ALOR GAJAH, Oct 29 – Barisan Nasional (BN) is confident it will avoid clashes with PAS in the upcoming Melaka state election following an agreement between the two parties.
Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the agreement was finalised during a high-level meeting on Wednesday.
He said BN and PAS had agreed to work together during the campaign and prepare a joint manifesto.
Ab Rauf, who is also Melaka Chief Minister, said the arrangement was different from political situations in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.
The Election Commission has set Oct 31 as nomination day. Early voting will take place on Nov 10, while polling is scheduled for Nov 14.
BN and PAS Agree to Work Together
Ab Rauf said PAS had been accepted as a strategic partner following the meeting.
Under the agreement, both parties will coordinate their campaign activities and present a shared manifesto.
He expressed confidence that the arrangement would prevent their candidates from contesting against each other in the same constituencies.
Melaka Government Continues Welfare Assistance
Separately, Ab Rauf said the state government would continue helping people in need, regardless of race or religion.
He said the Melaka Sayang Rakyat (MeSRa) welfare programme had channelled RM90.55 million to more than 42,500 recipients between 2021 and September 2026.
For this year’s Deepavali celebrations, the state allocated RM200,000 in assistance to 1,000 recipients across Melaka. This included RM36,000 for 180 recipients in the Masjid Tanah parliamentary constituency.
Ab Rauf said the assistance was part of the state’s ongoing welfare policy and was not an election incentive.
He added that the state government had allocated more than RM3 million for the Indian and Chinese communities through various forms of aid, including festive assistance and support for houses of worship.
Source: BERNAMA | Rewritten By Minutesmy
