SINGAPORE: Malaysia’s Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) are expected to begin talks on an electoral pact for the upcoming Melaka state election, which must be held by February next year, said two of their leaders after their landslide victory in the Aug 1 Negeri Sembilan polls. The two coalitions secured a commanding win last Saturday, claiming 25 of the 36 seats to form a supermajority in Negeri Sembilan’s state assembly. The victory built on last month’s Johor state election in which BN swept 48 out of 56 seats. Melaka Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh said on Sunday (Aug 2) that Melaka BN remained open to working with other political parties under a “BN Plus formula” ahead of the next state election. Ab Rauf is from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the lynchpin party of BN which currently controls the Melaka state assembly with a comfortable majority.