PN: Bersatu to contest in 15 seats, PAS eight, Gerakan five seats in Melaka polls - Muhyiddin

MELAKA: The Perikatan Nasional (PN) will contest in all 28 seats in the Melaka state election on Nov 20, announced its chairman, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today.

He said of the total, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will contest in 15 seats while PAS eight and Gerakan five seats.

The matter was stated during the announcement of the list of candidates and the hand-over credential letters to the coalition's 28 candidates in Shah Alam, Selangor, today.

Among the candidates are Masjid Tanah Member of Parliament (MP) who is also Masjid Tanah Bersatu chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, to contest for the Tanjung Bidara seat against her two opponents - Melaka UMNO Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Zainal Hassan from Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Also announced as a candidate is Bersatu vice-president Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen who moved from the Paya Rumput seat to Telok Mas in the upcoming polls.

Meanwhile, Melaka PAS commissioner Datuk Kamaruddin Sidek has returned to contest for the Duyong state seat.

In the 14th General Election (GE14), Kamarudin obtained 2,930 votes in a three-cornered fight which saw the Duyong state seat won by DAP's Damian Baba Yeo who obtained 7,642 votes. Another candidate was Lee Kiat Lee of MCA who received 4,747 votes.

Elsewhere, Gerakan vice-president and Melaka Gerakan chairman Datuk Seri Michael Gan Peng Lam will contest in Ayer Keroh.

In the Asahan state seat, PN is fielding another candidate from Gerakan, Dhanesh Basil, who is also the president of the Malaysian Indian Youth Council (MIYC).

Speaking on the background of the candidates, Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, said 43 per cent of the candidates are those aged 40 and below and a majority of them are professionals and highly educated.

Muhyiddin said PN would give 100 per cent commitment to serve for the interest and welfare of the people.

"We do not promise the moon and stars to the people.

"But we are highly committed, when given a mandate by the people we will deliver to the best of our ability and ensure that no one will be left behind in Melaka," he said.

He added that the PN component parties contesting in the Melaka polls had reached an agreement on the distribution of seats and the list of candidates.

PN, he said, offers clean leadership and integrity to the people of Melaka, and PN's record in governing the country can be used as the main reference by Melaka voters.

"The assistance packages for the people when facing the most difficult times in their lives, as well as success in pandemic management, as a result of the efforts made by PN will be presented to the people of Melaka as a reference for them to make the best choices," he said.

The Election Commission (EC) has set the voting date for the Melaka polls on Nov 20 while the nomination day is on Nov 8 and early voting on Nov 16, following the dissolution of the state assembly on Oct 4 after four state assemblymen withdrew support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali's leadership.

-- BERNAMA