KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun has said that the suggestion by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke that political parties be allowed to defend their seats in the coming state polls in the state is a good solution.

Aminuddin told English daily The Star that parties will not have to overcome many issues if they follow this principle.

"But we are open and will discuss with the others,” he was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, Loke said that DAP should get to contest all state seats it previously won in Negeri Sembilan, as should all other parties in the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance in the upcoming state election.

Anthony, who is also the DAP Negeri Sembilan chief, pointed out that DAP had won the 11 state seats it has there since the 2013 state election, and that during the 15th general election, DAP had won the majority of votes in the corresponding constituencies.

Loke stressed that his suggestion for each party to defend its own seats is only for Negeri Sembilan, and that the other states’ DAP divisions will be using their own methods for seat negotiations.

He, however, said that the Negeri Sembilan negotiations will be left to Aminuddin.

Separately, Sinar Harian reported today that Aminuddin will have a meeting immediately with state BN chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Hassan to discuss the seat allocation between the parties for the upcoming state election.

Aminuddin said the meeting did not have to be a formal meeting as he usually meets him in Parliament.

"I will discuss and will give my view. Our discussion is merely at the state level, but the decision will be made by the presidential council,” he was quoted as saying.

Aminnudin explained that all parties need to understand the context and be prepared to be open-minded.

"In Negeri Sembilan there are no seats that are vacant or belong to the opposition. So we have to agree unless there is a Bersatu or PAS seat, maybe we can discuss who to give (the seat) to.

"For me, it is easier if it is maintained. So if PH wins 20 seats in Negeri Sembilan then it is best it remains that way as it will bring people’s confidence more than fighting,” he was quoted as saying.

In the 2018 general election, Pakatan won 20 state seats in Negri with Barisan taking the remaining 16 seats.