Kuala lumpur: Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has urged party election machinery not to use matters relating to Negeri Sembilan's adat (traditional customs) as campaign issues in the 16th state election, saying doing so would help preserve harmony throughout the democratic process.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad, who is also UMNO deputy president, stated that the Negeri Sembilan's adat institution should be respected and must not be mixed with politics, warning that doing so could only create unnecessary tensions. "I have made it clear and reminded everyone that during the election campaign, we must not touch on adat issues," he said. He emphasized that dragging adat issues into politics, especially during campaigning, would only complicate the situation in the state and insisted there is no need to use such issues as campaign material.

Addressing reporters after the nomination process at Dewan Seri Rembau, Mohamad also spoke on the cooperation between BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN). He mentioned that both coalitions would continue their electoral understanding to maximize voter support in constituencies where BN is not contesting, aiming to secure victories for candidates from both coalitions across all 36 state seats. He clarified that this cooperation is an understanding, not a formal coalition as seen in Johor, and expressed hope that in Negeri Sembilan, both parties would aid each other to enhance support in contested constituencies.

The Negeri Sembilan Legislative Assembly was dissolved on June 5. The Election Commission has set July 28 for early voting and August 1 for polling.