Let the people judge for themselves, Azmin says on those who reject cooperation with Bersatu

Mohamed Azmin Ali says people should be allowed to form their own judgment of those who reject any form of cooperation with Bersatu in the Melaka state election on Nov 20.

Azmin, who is a member of the Bersatu Supreme Council and Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director, said the coalition had initiated the cooperation for the sake of the people and the interest of the state.

“That is their choice (refusing to negotiate with Bersatu). Let the people make their own judgment of the attitude and statements of those who refuse to cooperate,” he said when met at the Gombak parliamentary constituency’s Deepavali 2021 get-together in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Several Umno divisions in Melaka had yesterday ruled out any form of cooperation between Umno and Bersatu in the upcoming state election.

Tangga Batu Umno division chief Mohamad Ali Mohamad, who represented the group, said the decision was made to respect the wishes of the grassroots, while referring to other factors which he said made cooperation impossible.

Azmin, who is also PN’s information chief, said the coalition was always ready to negotiate cooperation, especially with the parties that form the federal government.

However, he stressed that time was not on their side, and that preparations must be made at the grassroots level especially involving seat distribution, candidates and the election machinery.

“This matter needs to be streamlined as soon as possible so that our machinery can act more effectively and efficiently and our actions do not cause the people to be confused about the direction, future of the country and the state,” he said.

He said the cooperation formed last year through the PN coalition had resulted in many successes for the country in the face of health and economic crises, adding that the cooperation should be continued in the Melaka state election.

The Election Commission has set nomination day for the Melaka state election on Nov 8, followed by early voting on Nov 16 and polling on Nov 20.

The election is being held following the dissolution of the Melaka state assembly on Oct 4, after four state assemblymen withdrew their support for Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali.