BARISAN Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are in the final stages of their seat negotiations for the state elections, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Zahid, who is also BN chairman, said the coalitions are expected to meet again at the end of the month.

The elections in six states are expected to be held by August. With BN and PH being allies, they are set to face Perikatan Nasional as their main opponent.

“We (BN) are in the process of finalising the seat allocation among us. Once the matter has been finalised, BN will meet PH to discuss the seats,” he told reporters at the end of the Umno annual general assembly today.

Earlier, in his winding-up speech at the general assembly, Zahid said he would raise in the cabinet a suggestion by Umno delegates to reinstate the Federal Territories Ministry.

Under the unity government, the portfolio was abolished with the tasks placed under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said he had discussed the matter with the Federal Territories Umno liaison committee chairman and Umno vice-president Johari Abdul Ghani.

“I have discussed this with him. He is more than qualified to become a minister, but he deserves a portfolio bigger than the Federal Territories Ministry,” he said.

“But if this is what the leaders in this division want, Insya Allah (God willing), I will make this our agenda.” – June 10, 2023.