Melaka polls: Former assemblyman rallies behind Tuminah in Pantai Kundor

MELAKA: Former Pantai Kundor assemblyman Datuk Nor Azman Hassan is putting past political differences aside to help Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Tuminah Kadi defend the seat in the Melaka election.

Nor Azman, who won the seat for BN in the 2018 General Election, lost to Tuminah in the 2021 Melaka election when he contested as a Pakatan Harapan candidate.

Tuminah, who represented Umno, defeated Nor Azman by a majority of 827 votes.

Nor Azman's Umno membership was terminated in October 2021 after he joined three other assemblymen in withdrawing support for the Melaka state government led by then Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

He rejoined Umno in July this year through the party's Rumah Bangsa initiative.

Speaking at a Pentas Gelombang Biru ceramah for the Pantai Kundor constituency in Tangga Batu here last night, Nor Azman said past disagreements with Tuminah should not stand in the way of their shared goal of retaining the seat for BN.

"Although we have had disagreements in the past, we are like a family in BN and our relationship will not be severed," he said.

Nor Azman, who is now the Pantai Kundor election director, said he was confident BN would retain the seat, which had never been lost by the coalition.

He cautioned Pantai Kundor voters against making a choice that could result in BN becoming the opposition in its own state. He said the coalition's campaign machinery needed to be more active in reaching out to various segments of society, including Pas leaders, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and young voters.

"BN has never lost in Pantai Kundor, so I hope voters will not regret their decision later.

"I am confident BN will govern Melaka as promised," he said.

Nor Azman said he believed Tuminah could serve the people of Pantai Kundor well and help secure another seat for BN.

He said supporting the party's candidate was his responsibility, even though he was no longer contesting the seat.

.Also present at the ceramah were Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and Tuminah