KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — Barisan Nasional (BN) has said it will retain the 21 seats it won in the previous Melaka state election, leaving Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) component parties to negotiate over the remaining seven constituencies as discussions over electoral cooperation continue ahead of next month’s polls.

BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition was holding talks with PN’s core parties following the suspension of activities by the Opposition coalition, but made clear that BN had no intention of giving up the seats it currently holds.

“Our principle is that the 21 seats we won are not seats that we intend to share,” he told reporters in Beijing today, according to The Star.

“If there is to be any sharing, it may involve seat swaps, but those 21 seats will remain ours.

“Any negotiations will concern the seven remaining seats that are not held by Barisan.

“It will be up to the other parties to decide how they distribute those seats among themselves.”

The deputy prime minister is in China on a five-day working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, technology and vocational education. Earlier today, he held talks with Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang in Beijing.

Zahid also suggested that the prospect of cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), BN’s partner in the federal unity government, had diminished.

He said statements by PH leaders at both national and state levels indicated that the coalition had lost interest in working with BN for the Melaka election.

“We respect that position,” he said.

Zahid added that Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh had been entrusted with making the final decision on BN’s electoral cooperation in the state.

The coalition is expected to announce its decision before nomination day on October 31.

The latest remarks follow comments by Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki on October 13 that BN was in the final stages of seat negotiations, with the coalition determined to defend all 21 constituencies it secured in the previous state election.

BN secured a commanding majority in the November 2021 Melaka election, winning 21 of the 28 state assembly seats, while PH took five and PN two.

The Election Commission has fixed November 14 as polling day for the 16th Melaka state election, with nominations scheduled for October 31.