Former Perlis Umno strongman Shahidan Kassim has called for cooperation between Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the Melaka state election next month, in yet another sign of open rebellion against party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the Arau Umno division had unanimously agreed to work with Bersatu and PAS, which are in PN, in order to ensure victory in the Nov 20 polls.

“We would give a bad impression about the formation of the current government, as it was established between political parties that sat together,” the Arau MP told MalaysiaNow today.

“Deputy president Mohamad Hasan said Umno is strong. If Umno is strong, just ask for more seats,” he added.

The comments of the federal territories minister appear in line with those of Umno Supreme Council member Zahidi Zainul Abidin who had also urged the Malay party to cooperate with others in the run-up to the Melaka polls.

Questions continue to swirl about cooperation between Umno, the country’s largest Malay party, and other parties following the statement by Zahid yesterday that no decision had yet been made.

This is despite Zahid earlier ruling out any cooperation with PAS or Bersatu in next month’s polls.

PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin meanwhile said political cooperation with Umno would be forged in the near future.

The Melaka state assembly was dissolved after Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali lost his majority backing following the move by four assemblymen to withdraw their support for him.

The four were led by former Melaka chief minister Idris Haron (Sungai Udang).

The other three were Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) and Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas).

Shahidan, who was sacked by Zahid as Perlis Umno chairman, said the party’s chances of winning the state polls would be slim if it decides to contest alone.

There are 28 seats in the Melaka state assembly. BN had held 12, DAP seven, Bersatu two, PKR two and Amanah two. The remaining three seats were held by independents.