Bersatu to contest under own logo in Melaka, open to pacts
The party says it wants to boost the chances of a stable, moderate and progressive state government being formed after the polls.
Source: Free Malaysia Today · October 5, 2026 at 11:32 AM · AI-assisted report
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MELAKA, 5 OCTOBER 2026 —
Bersatu has confirmed it will contest the upcoming Melaka state election under its own logo, after a meeting chaired by party president Muhyiddin Yassin in Petaling Jaya on 5 October 2026.
Market Impact
The party said it is ready to negotiate electoral pacts with other parties, a shift from its earlier stance that it would not work with any other parties in the polls.
In a statement, Bersatu secretary‑general Azmin Ali said the decision to form electoral pacts in the Melaka polls is aimed at boosting the potential of a stable, moderate and progressive state government being formed. “Bersatu appeals to the people of Melaka to give Bersatu’s candidates the opportunity to represent them in the legislature and bring meaningful change,” he added.
Azmin also said Bersatu will finalise the seats it intends to contest soon, following the political bureau meeting chaired by Muhyiddin that evening.
The move comes after Bersatu fell out of favour in Perikatan Nasional (PN) following the end of its political cooperation with the Pan‑Malaysian Islamic Front (PAS) in June. PAS had led PN into forming an alliance with Barisan Nasional for the 1 August 2026 Negeri Sembilan election, which secured a two‑thirds majority for the coalition.
Bersatu ran alone in that election and failed to win a single seat, with all 24 of its candidates suffering heavy defeats.
Bersatu’s decision to contest under its own logo is significant because the party has been a former component of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and played a key role in the collapse of the PH‑led federal government in February 2020 when Muhyiddin took over as prime minister. The party has also been linked to speculation of a pact with PH, especially after a dinner involving leaders of their Melaka chapters last month.
The announcement follows a dinner involving leaders of Bersatu and PH’s Melaka chapters last month, which has fueled speculation that the two parties might form a coalition for the state election. Bersatu’s willingness to negotiate pacts could therefore signal a potential realignment of political alliances ahead of the polls.
For Malaysian markets, the announcement may affect investor sentiment in the region, as political stability is closely watched by businesses and investors. The possibility of a stable, moderate and progressive state government in Melaka could influence regional economic planning and investment decisions, particularly in sectors that rely on state‑level policy support.
Bersatu’s next step will be to finalise the number of seats it will contest and to negotiate the terms of any electoral pact. The party’s decision to contest under its own logo and its openness to alliances marks a notable shift in its electoral strategy, which could reshape the political landscape in Melaka ahead of the upcoming state election.
Related: Muhyiddin Yassin · Melaka