Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that cooperation talks between PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) for the Melaka state election will be handled by their respective election committees. He said, "That will be discussed by the election committee, as usual. We have PH election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail leading the negotiations" [1, 2, 3].

The PH election committee, led by Amirudin Shari and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, is tasked with engaging BN on possible alliances. Amirudin is scheduled to meet Anwar soon to discuss cooperation prospects following the National Day celebrations [1, 2, 4, 3].

BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has authorized Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh to negotiate with any coalition concerning Melaka election cooperation. Zahid said BN is conducting a detailed study of grassroots sentiment before making decisions, cautioning against alliances that could backfire: "Grassroots sentiment is mixed. So we will conduct a detailed study. Jangan masuk ke lubuk di mana keli tidak boleh hidup ataupun ikan sepat tinggal tulang" [1, 5, 6, 7]. BN leadership decisions will ultimately be finalized by BN and UMNO central leadership after consulting Melaka BN [5, 6, 7].

Perikatan Nasional (PN) has also entered early discussions with BN about cooperation in Melaka. PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said, "Initial and general talks, including those regarding the Melaka election, have taken place. Feedback from BN leaders has been positive so far" [8]. PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang confirmed that official negotiations between PN and BN began days ago [9]. PN is working on a cooperation framework, though details remain open [8, 9].

PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar indicated a Melaka election could be called within two months and said, "Do not see 60 days as a long period. Instead, see it as a period that will determine the form of government that will administer Melaka" [10].

In the 2021 Melaka state election, BN won 21 of the 28 seats, PH won 5 seats, and PN took 2 seats [4, 6, 7]. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said MCA keeps an open mind on BN-PH cooperation for the upcoming polls, with decisions resting collectively with BN top leadership [11, 12]. He added, "Political analysts have offered various interpretations... but those interpretations will not dictate our cooperation with anyone, as it ultimately rests with the state leadership" [11].

The next key step is the planned meeting between PH’s Amirudin Shari and Anwar Ibrahim in the coming one to two weeks to further discuss PH-BN cooperation ahead of the likely Melaka state election within the next two months [4, 10].