KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 — Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today that Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) have not discussed cooperating for the state elections that will be held next year.

BN and PH were focused on forming a political understanding, the PKR secretary-general said on Radio Television Malaysia’s (RTM) Naratif Khas programme tonight.

"For now, discussions are not there yet about whether there will be political cooperation, a political understanding, an electoral pact, a political coalition. We have never discussed that yet.

"Our focus is to create compatibility in the name of the unity government, so that this government functions and is seen as compact and intact, because it is only then that we can build the people’s confidence in us,” said Saifuddin, who is the home minister.

Saifuddin noted that the coalitions only began cooperating after the 15th general election, and said he was confident the discussions would begin when appropriate.

There were more important areas in which the new allies needed to find common ground first, he explained.

Rivals before GE15, PH and BN joined to form a unity government together with Gabungan Parti Sarawak, allowing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become the prime minister.

Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu must all hold their state elections next year after the six opted not to dissolve their assemblies along with Parliament during GE15.