Melaka polls: Anwar's political secretary in three-cornered fight in Paya Rumput

MELAKA: The Paya Rumput seat will see a three-cornered contest between Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional and Bersama in the 16th Melaka election.

PH candidate Datuk Azman Abidin will face PN-Pas candidate Rafie Ahmad and Bersama's Abdul Rashid Abu Bakar.

Paya Rumput Election Commission returning officer Safuan Effendy Mat Ghani confirmed the contest after accepting all three nomination papers.

He said Azman submitted his papers at 9.01am, followed by Rafie about 9.05am and Abdul Rashid at 9.17am.

The candidates will appear on the ballot paper in the following order: Rafie (PN), Abdul Rashid (Bersama) and Azman (PH).

Azman, who is the political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was the first candidate to arrive at the nomination centre at the Grand Ballroom of Hang Jebat Stadium about 8.40am.

He was accompanied by PH election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and more than 200 supporters.

Azman had previously said his decision to contest in Melaka was driven by a desire to contribute to the state, which has links to his family's roots.

Rafie, who is Hang Tuah Pas Jaya deputy chief, arrived at the nomination centre at 9am, accompanied by PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

More than 400 PN and Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters were also present, with supporters from both coalitions gathering side by side.

PN is fielding two Pas candidates in the state election, with the other being Muhammad Ridzuan Mohd Sarif in Bukit Katil.

Abdul Rashid, 37, a Syariah lawyer, arrived at the nomination centre at 9.15am. He previously served as the central permanent chairman of PKR Youth from 2018 to 2025 before joining Bersama in May this year.

In the 2021 state election, BN's Datuk Rais Yasin retained Paya Rumput with 6,830 votes and a majority of 629. PH's Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin came second with 6,201 votes, while PN's Muhammad Faris Izwan Mazlan garnered 3,972 votes.

Rais will not defend the seat in this election and has instead been fielded in Sungai Udang. Polling is scheduled for Nov 14, while early voting will take place on Nov 10.