adminMELAKA: Barisan Nasional (BN) will announce its candidates for the Melaka State Election (PRN) together with PAS and its strategic partners this Saturday, said its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also UMNO President, said BN will contest in 21 seats, while PAS and its strategic partners will contest in seven seats based on the distribution agreed upon so far.
“God willing, on the same stage and in the same hall, we will announce (the BN, PAS and strategic partner candidates),” he told reporters after chairing the BN Supreme Council Meeting at the Melaka International Trade Centre, here last night.
Regarding the distribution of seats between BN component parties, Ahmad Zahid said the matter had been finalised based on the expected ability of each party to win in the areas to be contested.
He said PAS and its strategic partners also held a meeting to discuss the distribution of seats between them.
“God willing, everything will be resolved well… everything has been finalized according to the number of seats we agreed upon together,” he said.
In a related development, Ahmad Zahid said that Chief Minister and Melaka BN Chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh has been appointed as the BN Election Director for this election.
He said Ab Rauf took over the task from UMNO Deputy President and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who had assignments abroad during the campaign period.
“It so happened that while the campaign was going on in Melaka, he (Mohamad) had many duties abroad including attending meetings of Commonwealth countries and also representing the country at regional meetings, then the ASEAN Summit and also in several other countries,” he said.
The Election Commission has set Nov 14 as polling day for the Melaka state election, with nominations on Oct 31 and early voting on Nov 10.
In the 2021 Melaka state election, BN won 21 of the 28 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats contested, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) won five seats and Perikatan Nasional (PN) two seats.
— BERNAMA
