WITH four days left before nominations for the Malacca state elections, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) is still in talks with Pakatan Harapan (PH) on the seats it can contest.

Muda vice-president Dr Thanussha Francis Xavier told The Malaysian Insight that discussions are ongoing even though PH did not name Muda when announcing the seat allocation for its component parties recently.

“Muda and PH are discussing seats for the Malacca polls as an opposition bloc,” she said.

“Muda is a firm believer in a united opposition, which is why it is important for us to discuss with our allies as we head for the elections. Without discussions, it will only result in split votes for the opposition.”

PH last week announced that its three component parties will contest all 28 seats in the Malacca polls, scheduled for November 20.

Eleven seats have been allocated to PKR, nine to Amanah and eight to DAP.

While there was no mention of allocating seats to Muda, Thanussha said this was because PH had to address seats for the official parties of the coalition first.

Muda, which was formed by former Bersatu youth chief and former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman after the collapse of the PH government last year, has yet to be registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

It also did not join PH officially but is on the opposition bloc in Parliament.

The home minister has rejected the Muda’s application to the ROS, and the party is challenging this decision, with its application on the matter to be heard in court next month.

Muda president Syed Saddiq announced on October 27 that the party intends to contest in the Malacca elections.

He said Muda will field young candidates who stand for multiracial and moderate politics as well as policy-based and service-oriented politics.

Thanussha, when asked about candidate selection, said because seat allocation talks with PH have to be concluded, Muda is unable to choose its candidates.

It has been speculated that Muda’s candidates will have to stand on a PH ticket since their party is not registered, but Thanussha said “everything is still in discussion”.

PH has agreed to use the coalition’s logo in the Malacca polls instead of that of the candidates’ respective parties.

Voting for the election will be on November 20 with nomination set for November 8.

The Barisan Nasional-led Malacca state government fell on October 4 after four assemblymen withdrew support for Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali.

The Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca then opted to dissolve the legislative assembly despite efforts to form a new government through discussions to gather majority support for a new chief minister. – November 4, 2021.