‘We are always open’: BN still negotiating political cooperation, says Asyraf Wajdi

Malay Mail Wed, 30 September 2026 at 5:43 am UTC 1 min read Malay Mail KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said talks over Barisan Nasional's (BN) approach to the Melaka state election are still ongoing, with its political cooperation arrangements yet to be finalised. According to Utusan Malaysia , Asyraf said discussions remained at the leadership level and noted that the Election Commission had yet to announce the election date. "We are still negotiating. Let's wait. The Election Commission has not even announced the date yet," he was quoted as saying after officiating the Mara Automotive Ecosystem (MATEC) 2026 here today. Asked whether BN was considering a new political alignment, he said the coalition remained on the same course. "If they (Pakatan Harapan) do not want to cooperate, that is their right. We cannot force them because it is their party, not ours. We are always open," he said. Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh had said on Sunday that BN would begin talks with other political groupings ahead of the 16th Melaka state election. He said the discussions would include BN's position that it should defend the 21 state seats it won in the 2021 election. However, Utusan Malaysia subsequently reported that no meeting between BN and other political groupings took place at Menara Dato' Onn on Monday as initially expected.