MELAKA: Perikatan Nasional is ready to face the Melaka election and will not wait for other parties to decide if they want to work with the coalition, says state chairman Datuk Wira Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen.

       "It's Umno's decision and right to work with PAS and we will continue to focus on our preparation for the polls. We will not wait for anyone," he said on Friday (Oct 29).

       Mohd Rafiq said Umno's election machinery was consistent with the decision made by Perikatan president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

       Muhyiddin had announced that the coalition would contest all 28 state seats and had decided to field candidates from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, PAS and Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia under its banner.

       Mohd Rafiq said the three parties under Perikatan had started working collectively to prepare for the state election since the Melaka legislative assembly was dissolved on Oct 5.

       "We are confident that PAS will be with Perikatan in the state election," he said.

       He was commenting on Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan's statement on Thursday (Oct 29) that Umno wanted to work with PAS in the upcoming state polls.

       He said the stand was in line with the resolutions reached at the Umno general assembly last year, among others to strengthen Muafakat Nasional which comprises Umno and PAS.

       Ahmad Maslan said the basis of the cooperation with PAS was guided by the principle that the Islamist party would use its own party symbol in line with the spirit and resolution of the Muafakat main committee in a meeting on Oct 19, 2020.