PN open to negotiations, seat swap with BN - Ahmad Samsuri

TAIPING - Perikatan Nasional (PN) is open to negotiations with Barisan Nasional (BN), including the possibility of seat swaps in the upcoming Malacca State Election.

PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said although negotiations have not taken place yet, there is still time to discuss the matter before the Malacca State Legislative Assembly is dissolved.

He said PN is also ready to hold talks with Muafakat partners if all parties are willing.

"PN remains open to any negotiations, which have not occurred yet.

"With the remaining time, there is ample opportunity for parties within PN to sit down and discuss, as well as with other Muafakat partners. If BN is ready to talk, God willing, we are also ready," he told reporters.

He said this after officiating the 23rd Perak Pas Convention at Perdana Hotel here on Sunday.

Samsuri noted that holding discussions before the assembly's dissolution would be ideal, allowing all parties to prepare for the state polls.

He added that developments in Johor and Negeri Sembilan provided two different models that could serve as reference points for the approach in Malacca.

"Anything can happen. We see what happened in Johor and what happened in Negeri Sembilan — two different models.

"We will see what happens in Malacca when the time comes," he said.

Yesterday, BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition was keeping the door open for talks on seat allocation and swaps for the Malacca state election, provided it is done with honesty and sincerity without reducing each party's seat total.

Zahid also said the core principle of the negotiations was that seats won by any party must be respected and not simply handed over to political partners.