SEREMBAN: There is no need to appoint any Perikatan Nasional assemblyman to the Melaka exco line-up, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan(pic).

       The Umno deputy president said Barisan Nasional had already won handsomely with a two-thirds majority in Saturday's (Nov 20) state polls.

       "Since we did not contest the election as a coalition (with Perikatan), why is there a need for us to consider this now?

       "I really want to know what is the necessity for this.

       "I can understand if we (Barisan) did not win enough seats (to form the state government) but we now have a situation where we have more than enough assemblymen who can be appointed excos," he said here on Tuesday (Nov 23).

       Mohamad said if the party leadership were to discuss this, he would surely share his views.

       "If the leadership can justify why we need to accept the two Perikatan assemblymen, then I would be okay with it.

       "Otherwise I don't see why there is a need (to make them exco members)," he said.

       Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali had said earlier the Umno leadership would discuss the positions of the two Perikatan assemblymen.

       Barisan won 21 of the 28 seats in the state election while Pakatan Harapan won five and Perikatan, two.

       Perikatan, represented by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, PAS and Gerakan, contested all 28 seats but won only in Sungai Udang and Bemban.

       Mohamad said it was not a peculiar situation if political parties could work together at Federal but not at state level.