Melaka: Bersatu, PAS set to take on Umno in 19 seats

Bersatu and PAS will clash with Umno in 19 of the 28 seats contested at the upcoming Melaka polls, following the two parties’ announcement of their candidates under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner.

PN will also be fielding five Gerakan candidates, four of whom will be up against the party’s traditional enemies DAP and MCA.

The announcement of the PN candidates was made at an event attended by the presidents of its component parties, including PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang who addressed participants online.

The coalition is also fielding Masjid Tanah MP and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who will be contesting the Tanjung Bidara seat against Melaka Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh and PKR’s Zainal Hassan.

Mas Ermieyati, the former Puteri Umno chief who defected to Bersatu in 2018, is widely speculated to be PN’s candidate for chief minister.

In total, Bersatu will contest 15 seats, followed by PAS (eight) and Gerakan (five).

The clashes between between PN and Umno, which is contesting under the Barisan Nasional banner, follow the latter’s decision to break ties with Bersatu, led by Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin was ousted from power in August following a series of defections engineered by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former leader Najib Razak.

Speaking at a press conference later, Muhyiddin said the clashes could not be avoided, adding that it was the choice of Umno not to cooperate with PN despite both groups forming the federal coalition.

“There were some efforts to avoid clashes as much as possible, but they have decided to contest under BN. That is their decision,” he said.

“The record of the PN government in administering the country can be the main point of reference for the voters in Melaka,” he added.

“We are attentive to the well-being of the people and do everything we can to help them during the hardest time of their lives. It’s not that we want to praise ourselves, but look at the achievements we have made today in addressing the pandemic and assistance for the people – the result of efforts by the PN government.”