Former UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said the Barisan Nasional (BN)-Pas cooperation model being tested in the Negeri Sembilan state election could be expanded to Selangor if it proves successful in consolidating the Malay vote.

Speaking to reporters after the UMNO Subang division’s Wanita, Youth and Puteri delegates’ meeting on Sunday night, Khairy said Selangor shares similar voter demographics with Negeri Sembilan, making it a suitable state for a similar electoral strategy.

However, he stressed that the results of the Negeri Sembilan state election should be evaluated before any formal discussions take place between the leadership of BN and PAS.

Khairy described the cooperation as a political experiment aimed at determining whether uniting the Malay vote would strengthen both parties’ electoral prospects.

He said election strategies should remain flexible and adapted to political realities. He also emphasized that both parties must demonstrate sincerity and commitment while assessing whether BN supporters are willing to back PAS candidates and whether PAS supporters are prepared to vote for BN candidates.

According to Khairy, a unified Malay vote could significantly improve the alliance’s chances of winning control of Selangor.

Commenting on the broader political landscape, Khairy said the BN-PAS cooperation in Negeri Sembilan also reflected underlying strains within the coalition of parties that make up Malaysia’s Unity Government.

Despite those challenges, he said BN should remain in the Unity Government until the next general election, arguing that political stability should be maintained.

Asked whether BN would name a “poster boy” ahead of the next Selangor state election, Khairy said the matter should be decided by the party leadership at the appropriate time. He added that future electoral strategies would depend on political developments and the effectiveness of the BN-PAS cooperation model in Negeri Sembilan.