PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) will contest only 21 of the 28 seats in the Nov 14 Melaka state election, with former chief minister Adly Zahari to defend the Bukit Katil seat.
Azman Abidin, the political secretary to PH chairman Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, will contest the Paya Rumput seat, while Ginie Lim will stand in Machap Jaya.
Other candidates include Kerk Chee Yee, who will defend his Ayer Keroh seat, Jason Tze-Xi Nathan in Pengkalan Batu and Farzana Hayani in Klebang.
PH is not contesting seven seats, including Bemban, amid speculation of a possible electoral understanding with Bersatu.
Although Melaka PH has maintained that it will contest the state election on its own, speculation of an understanding with Bersatu has persisted following a dinner between state PH and Bersatu leaders last month, which was not attended by DAP representatives.
Speaking at the Hang Jebat Stadium car park in Melaka tonight, Anwar praised Adly as a former chief minister who had proven his competence.
Adly first won Bukit Katil in the 2018 general election with a 3,159-vote majority in a three-cornered contest. He retained the seat in the 2021 Melaka state election, but his majority shrank to 1,057 votes in a four-cornered fight.
Nomination day for the Melaka election is scheduled for Oct 31, with early voting on Nov 10 and polling day on Nov 14.
In the 2021 state election, BN won 21 of the 28 seats, while PH secured five and Perikatan Nasional won two.
Here is the full list of PH candidates:
- N01 Kuala Linggi - Mukhlisul Mubin Julasapiyah
- N02 Tanjung Bidara - Yunazri Mustamiri
- N06 Rembia - Khuzairie Kamal Kannan
- N07 Gadek - Jegasilan K
- N08 Machap Jaya - Ginie Lim
- N09 Durian Tunggal - Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat
- N10 Asahan - P Denesh
- N13 Paya Rumput - Azman Abidin
- N14 Klebang - Farzana Hayani Nasir
- N15 Pengkalan Batu - Jason Tze-Xi Nathan
- N16 Ayer Keroh - Kerk Chee Yee
- N17 Bukit Katil - Adly Zahari
- N18 Ayer Molek - Hakimin Mokhtar
- N19 Kesidang - Alex Seah
- N20 Kota Laksamana - Low Chee Leong
- N21 Duyong - Poo Long Suan
- N22 Bandar Hilir - Leng Chau Yen
- N23 Telok Mas - Mohamad Jaafar
- N25 Rim - Esma Eazreen Husin
- N26 Serkam - Faiq Azman
- N27 Merlimau - Rahayu Hamzah