Up to Barisan to decide on electoral pact, says Hadi

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 3, 2026

PAS has postponed its decision on forming an electoral alliance with Barisan Nasional for the upcoming Melaka state election, leaving the final call to BN leadership amid mixed reactions from BN’s state leaders. This delay occurs as PAS negotiates candidate allocations and prepares to contest under its own logo if the Perikatan Nasional symbol remains unusable, emphasizing its commitment to Malay-Muslim leadership and rejecting cooperation with Pakatan Harapan.

PAS has deferred the decision on forming an electoral alliance with Barisan Nasional (BN) for the upcoming Melaka state election, according to party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang. Speaking at Masjid Rusila in Kuala Terengganu, Abdul Hadi emphasized that the choice lies with BN’s leadership, despite some hesitation among state-level BN leaders regarding the pact.

Abdul Hadi highlighted strong grassroots support within BN for cooperation with PAS, particularly to ensure Malay-Muslim governance in Melaka. “If Barisan wants to seek cooperation, we agree. Everything can be discussed,” he said.

The Melaka legislative assembly was dissolved on September 23, setting the stage for the 16th state election. PAS has remained clear in its rejection of any coalition with Pakatan Harapan, underscoring the importance of Malay-Muslim leadership in the state government. “We reject Pakatan Harapan,” Abdul Hadi stated, reaffirming the party’s firm stance against cooperation with the opposition bloc.

The party is actively negotiating seat allocations with coalition partners, with Abdul Hadi expressing confidence that these talks will conclude without significant conflicts. Although final numbers have yet to be confirmed, PAS’s central leadership and party machinery are pursuing consensus-based decisions on candidate distribution.

Meanwhile, PAS has also addressed uncertainties stemming from the recent suspension of Perikatan Nasional (PN) activities by the Registrar of Societies on September 24 over constitutional compliance issues. In response, Abdul Hadi confirmed that PAS is prepared to field candidates using its own party emblem—the “moon” logo—should the PN symbol remain unavailable.

The outcome of negotiations and decisions on electoral pacts will shape PAS’s strategy in the Melaka election, as the party seeks to consolidate Malay-Muslim political influence while navigating complex coalition dynamics ahead of the state polls.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.