“Bersatu and PN respect Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s stand in not working with us (Bersatu),” he told reporters after officiating the state-level National Sports Day 2021 celebration here today.

Earlier, Rafiq said Melaka PN was ready to negotiate with Umno to avoid a three-cornered fight.

Zahid, however, reportedly said that Umno would not cooperate with Bersatu in the Melaka state election.

Rafiq also said PN would abide by whatever decision is taken by the federal government on whether the state election should proceed.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government had not decided whether a state of emergency should be declared to allow a postponement of the elections.

The state assembly was dissolved on Monday after the Umno-led state government lost its majority. Under the constitution, elections must be held within 60 days from dissolution.

Delay polls, says Mukhriz

Mukhriz Mahathir, president of the Pejuang party, urged the government to seek a local state of emergency and avoid a snap election until the Covid-19 outbreak is controlled.

“The safety and interests of the people should never be at stake in political games and power grabs,” he said in a statement, adding that Melaka residents were not as interested in elections as in rebuilding their lives.

“Don’t let them be forced to go out to vote, it will be even worse if they boycott the state elections,” he said.