KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional (BN) Melaka is open to working with any party ahead of the upcoming Melaka state election under the BN Plus formula, said its chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
Ab Rauf, who is also Melaka Umno liaison chairman, said the party remained open to negotiations with any group interested in exploring cooperation ahead of the polls, Bernama reported.
“Whoever can come and negotiate, but negotiations do not necessarily end with an agreement or consensus… it depends on the strengths of each side.
“So we are not bound by any ties that have yet to be formally established as a final coalition, but I am open to everyone coming to negotiate with me,” he told reporters.
He was speaking during the Ketua Menteri Sayang Rakyat (MeSRa) outreach programme at the Telok Mas State Legislative Assembly Development and Coordination Committee (Japerun) Complex here today.
Yesterday, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported as saying that the successful cooperation between BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in forming the Negeri Sembilan government was expected to spur the coalition to maintain its winning momentum in the upcoming Melaka state election.
Ab Rauf also congratulated Juasseh assemblyman Datuk Ismail Lasim on his appointment as the new Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar.
He expressed hope that Ismail would fulfil his responsibilities and deliver the best service to the people, in line with the promises made in the election manifesto.
In the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election, Ismail retained the Juasseh seat with a 4,091-vote majority after securing 6,907 votes. He defeated Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Mohd Aidil Abdullah, who received 2,816 votes, and Bersatu’s Mohd Zuhaimi Md Yusof, who garnered 506 votes.
In the election, BN won 18 state seats, followed by PH with 11 and PN with seven.
The Negeri Sembilan government was formed through a cooperation between BN and PN. – August 2, 2026