KUALA LUMPUR: Masjid Tanah Bersatu division chief, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin has been announced as the chief minister candidate for Perikatan Nasional (PN) if the party receives the mandate to form the state government in the Melaka election this Saturday.

The nomination of Mas Ermieyati who is also the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) was announced by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in a media conference at PN headquarters here today.

"I believe this is the first in the country's history that a highly qualified young woman with wide experience has been offered as chief minister candidate.

"I am not aware if there is such a precedence in the country but PN is giving the opportunity to anybody regardless of gender to hold such an important post," he said.

PN is contesting in all 28 seats of the assembly in the Nov 20 polling with its component party, Bersatu standing in 15 seats, PAS eight and Gerakan, five.

Mas Ermieyati, 45, is in a three-cornered battle for the Tanjung Bidara seat with state UMNO liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh of BN, and Zainal Hassan of Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Muhyiddin said the selection of Mas Ermieyati as the chief minister candidate is due to her track record as a clean and popular leader among the local community apart from her experience in politics.

"I have also gone to the ground and found Melaka voters who are very knowledgeable in politics want a competent leader, they did not mention man or woman, they just want a clean person who can work and this track record is with Datuk Mas (Ermieyati)," he said.

In this regard, Muhyiddin said Mas Ermieyati has to resign as deputy minister if appointed as chief minister.

"If chosen as chief minister, she has to resign, as she cannot hold two posts in the federal and state governments," said Muhyiddin.

Meanwhile, Mas Ermieyati expressed her gratitude to the party's top leadership for naming her as chief minister candidate.

"Despite being just a candidate, I carry a heavy responsibility in the state election," she said.

The Melaka election was held following the dissolution of the State Assembly when four assemblymen withdrew their support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, and the Election Commission set polling day on this Saturday.

-- BERNAMA