KLANG: The Melaka state election is set to see a fiery fight between three coalitions: Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.

       Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had already made it clear that there would be no cooperation with Perikatan in the state polls.

       Yesterday, Perikatan announced that its component parties would contest under one banner and logo.

       Coalition chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the decision was arrived upon at its special supreme council meeting on the Melaka state election that he chaired.He said the meeting was attended by all Perikatan partners – Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, PAS, Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party and Gerakan.

       “The Perikatan supreme council decided that Bersatu, PAS and Gerakan would contest in the election by collectively using the Perikatan logo.“Negotiations for seats will be finalised by the Perikatan seat negotiation committee,” he said in a statement.

       Muhyiddin added that the supreme council had also decided that all Perikatan component parties should fully activate their party machinery, combine forces and efforts to win the trust of the people in order to win the state election.

       “Perikatan will always hold on to the aspiration of building unity and ensuring an administration which has integrity and cares for the people’s well-being,” he said.

       However, Selangor Umno and Selangor PAS have aired their uneasiness over their parties being on opposite sides in the election.

       Selangor PAS secretary Roslan Shahir and his Umno counterpart Datuk Kamaruzzaman Johari said the situation might cast a shadow on the close ties the parties had in the state under the Muafakat Nasional pact.In Selangor, Umno and PAS have enjoyed close ties and regularly have joint activities and events.