Bersatu eyes up to 10 seats in Melaka, wants 2 former strongholds

Melaka Bersatu is determined to defend the seats of Bemban and Sungai Udang which it won in the 2021 state election, although both incumbents have since left the party for Wawasan.

The state chapter’s information chief, Hishamuddin Abdul Karim, said Bersatu was also expected to contest up to 10 of Melaka’s 28 state seats.

“Bemban and Sungai Udang… I am confident the party will continue to contest them,” he told FMT.

“I am (also) confident Bersatu will contest no more than 10 seats. Even if there is cooperation with another party, we will contest no more than 10 state seats.”

Hishamuddin said the number of seats and candidates would be finalised after talks on cooperation, which could conclude as early as next week.

In the 2021 Melaka election, Bersatu won Bemban through Dr Yadzil Yaakub and Sungai Udang through Dr Aleef Yusof, both under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner.

Yadzil and Aleef subsequently left Bersatu and joined Wawasan.

Wawasan vice-president Rahim Thamby Chik has said his party specifically wants to contest the Bemban and Sungai Udang seats, regardless of whether PN forms an agreement with Barisan Nasional.