Shamsul Iskandar Akin said seat negotiations must take place soon, given that the Melaka assembly would be automatically dissolved on Dec 26, 2026.

“We need to also discuss the overall strategy as a coalition,” he told FMT in an interview.

Shamsul, the Melaka PKR chief, was asked about calls from Melaka DAP leaders to cut ties with Umno Youth chief and Melaka exco member Dr Akmal Saleh.

In May, 15 DAP branches in Jasin passed a motion urging the unity government not to field politicians who “practise extremist politics” as candidates in the upcoming state election.

They said they would support unity government candidates “on the condition that they do not engage in extremist politics”.

In response, Shamsul said it was imperative that PH and BN stay united to maintain public confidence and deny the opposition political ammunition.

Perikatan Nasional is “very weak now”, he said. “There are quarrels now within Bersatu, and between Bersatu and PAS.

“Whatever you say about the Madani government, this coalition of various parties delivers and is seen to have delivered. These are the good vibes the people feel.

“Show the public that we work together for them,” he said, urging DAP and Umno leaders to resolve their disputes internally.

Shamsul also urged unity government leaders to be fair during seat negotiations, stressing that no party should seek to contest beyond its fair share.

“You cannot say that because of unity, you want to contest 26 out of 28 seats. The underlying rule is always fairness,” he said.

There are 28 seats in the Melaka state assembly. In the 2021 state election, BN secured 21 seats, PH five, and PN two.

One Umno assemblyman later defected to PAS, before the state’s anti-hopping enactment came into effect.