Saifuddin Urges Pakatan Parties to Keep GE16 Seat Talks Internal

KUALA LUMPUR: Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has called on component parties within Pakatan Harapan to avoid publicly announcing their intentions to contest parliamentary seats ahead of Malaysia’s 16th General Election (GE16).

The coalition’s secretary-general stressed that any discussions regarding seat allocations should be conducted through official internal channels, particularly the Pakatan Presidential Council and its established negotiation mechanisms.

“In Pakatan, if there is any intention to contest a parliamentary seat, we don’t raise it in the newspapers. It should be brought to the Presidential Council and through the secretariat. We even have a seat negotiation committee. That is the correct process,” he said.

Saifuddin explained that the coalition already has a structured framework to manage seat distribution, aimed at ensuring coordination, avoiding misunderstandings, and enabling collective decision-making among member parties.

His remarks came in response to statements by Khalid Samad, chairman of Amanah Federal Territories, who recently expressed hope that his party would be given the opportunity to contest three key parliamentary constituencies in GE16.

The National Trust Party is reportedly eyeing the seats of Putrajaya, Labuan, and Titiwangsa, areas considered strategically important in the upcoming election.

Saifuddin reiterated that while aspirations from component parties are expected, they must be managed through proper internal processes to maintain unity and discipline within the coalition as it prepares for GE16.