MALACCA Perikatan Nasional (PN) is ready to hold talks with the state Umno body to avoid three-cornered fights in the upcoming state elections.

Its chairman, Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen, said that Bersatu, together with PAS and Gerakan, had made a stand there would be no clashes in seizing the state seats.

“We are open if Malacca Umno wants to negotiate with state PN to avoid three-cornered fights. If Umno is ready then we will think the next course of action.

“As long as we do not know Umno’s decision, we will not go into details. Talks on seat distribution is too far off. We are waiting for them to make a decision,” he said at a press conference in Ayer Keroh today.

Also present were state PAS commissioner Kamaruddin Sidek and state Gerakan chairman Michael Gan Peng Lam.

Meanwhile, Rafiq said the membership of Bersatu assemblyman Noor Effandi Ahmad was automatically revoked following his actions in withdrawing support for the state government led by Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali.

Earlier today, Speaker Abd Rauf Yusoh announced that the Malacca legislative assembly had been dissolved. 

He said outgoing chief minister Sulaiman had advised the Governor of Malacca, Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, in a letter to dissolve the state assembly after losing his majority. 

After several days of speculation, four assemblymen announced yesterday they had lost confidence in the government led by Sulaiman. 

The four are former chief minister Idris Haron (Sg Udang) Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Noor Effandi (Telok Mas) and Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu). – Bernama, October 5, 2021.