00:00Pakatan Harapan Communications Director Fahmi Fadzeel
00:04has played down a closed-door dinner between Melaka PH and Bersatu leaders last night ahead of the state election.
00:10Fahmi said PH had yet to begin official talks with Bersatu on an electoral alliance
00:15and that any political cooperation must ultimately be decided by the PH Presidential Council.
00:21At a press conference, Fahmi noted that he was not at the dinner
00:25and knew nothing about what happened beyond media reports describing it as simply a dinner.
00:30Those present included Acting Melaka PKR Chief Adam Adli, Bersatu Information Chief Tun Faizal Ismail Aziz,
00:38Deputy Melaka Bersatu Chief Ali Mohamad and State Amanah Chief Ashraf Mukles Minghat.
00:44Melaka PH Chairman Adli Zahari had previously mentioned the coalition was finalising talks with like-minded parties,
00:50including Bersatu, to form a PH Plus alliance for the state election.
00:55But PH is also holding talks with Melaka's ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional.
01:01BN, meanwhile, is separately discussing cooperation with Perikatan Nasional.
01:05PH and BN remain allies in the federal government while PN is in the opposition.
01:11Bersatu remains a PN component, although its relationship with PAS has deteriorated.
01:15BN and PN joined forces in the August 1st Negeri Sembilan election and secured a two-thirds majority.
01:22Bersatu contested separately in protest and lost all 24 seats it contested.
01:27BN has yet to confirm whether that cooperation with PN will continue in Melaka,
01:32despite previously saying the partnership would carry on.
01:36Amadeep Gill, FMT.
