Pakatan Harapan's seat allocation for the upcoming Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections will only be finalised after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim returns from his overseas trip, according to PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Saifuddin Nasution, who was quoted by Malay Mail and The Star as speaking at the Home Ministry monthly assembly in Kuala Lumpur, said the matter would be brought before the coalition presidential council for endorsement, a meeting expected to be chaired by Anwar upon his return from Japan.
"After that process, only then will it be official," Saifuddin Nasution said, confirming that the list of seat allocations would be tabled for formal confirmation before any public announcement is made.
The PH secretary-general added that earlier disputes involving overlapping claims for certain seats in Johor had already been resolved at the secretariat level, describing the internal negotiations as productive. "We managed to settle that during the Johor secretariat meeting," he said.
The resolution of seat disputes signals progress within the coalition as it prepares for a competitive electoral contest. The seat allocation process is critical for PH as it navigates its partnership within the broader unity government framework, balancing demands from component parties - DAP, PKR, and Amanah - while also considering seat-sharing arrangements with Barisan Nasional at the federal level.
Both state assemblies were dissolved in recent days, with Johor dissolved on June 1 and Negeri Sembilan on June 5. The Election Commission is scheduled to hold a special meeting on June 12 to determine key dates for both states. -- Sources: Malay Mail, The Star
