ALOR GAJAH (Oct 30): Winnability and a thorough assessment on the ground were the key considerations behind Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) agreeing to allocate two additional seats to MCA for the Melaka state election, Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ab Rauf Yusoh said.
He said the decision to allocate the Kota Laksamana and Bandar Hilir state seats to MCA was finalised in the spirit of cooperation between BN and PN, with both sides agreeing that the seats should be contested by the party with the strongest prospects of winning.
With the latest allocation, MCA will contest four state seats, bringing BN’s total to 23.
“The decision was reached through mutual negotiations and in the interests of both sides, after reviewing the findings of studies which showed that it would be better to allocate the seats to the party with greater potential to win.
“Both sides agreed to hand the seats to MCA. This gives MCA two additional seats, bringing its total to four and BN’s overall tally to 23,” he told reporters after attending the Tanjung Bidara State Constituency’s Hi-Tea Jalinan Muhibah programme in Masjid Tanah here on Friday.
Dismissing claims that the last-minute decision was prompted by political pressure from MCA, Ab Rauf said the matter did not arise as the understanding had been reached amicably.
He said BN’s maturity as a coalition, built on a strong relationship spanning more than seven decades, had enabled seat allocation issues to be resolved through consultation and a family-like approach.
“There is no need to debate this because we have resolved it through a family-oriented approach, and our sense of togetherness has lasted more than 70 years,” he said.
Nominations take place this Saturday, with early voting on Nov 10 and polling on Nov 14.
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