Four Melaka seats set for PH-Bersatu clashes

MELAKA: Four state constituencies will see straight or multi-cornered contests between Pakatan Harapan and Bersatu in the Melaka election following the party's announcement of eight candidates last night.

The seats are Ayer Keroh, Klebang, Gadek and Pengkalan Batu, all of which PH will be defending in the Nov 14 polls.

Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the party was leaving it to Melaka voters to decide who deserved to represent them, despite the overlap in seat allocations with PH.

The party's election director said Bersatu would continue to compete without resorting to smear tactics, instead offering policies focused on public welfare, economic growth and job creation.

He said its candidates would promote the party's people-centred policies, including addressing economic concerns, driving growth and creating employment opportunities.

"I believe the people of Melaka are mature enough, having changed governments in the past.

"We hope they will once again demonstrate maturity and fairness by giving Bersatu the opportunity to represent them," he said.

He was speaking after Bersatu's candidate announcement ceremony at the party's main operations room at Baitul Tariq in Klebang last night.

On overlapping seat allocations with other parties, Azmin said the situation meant they would compete against one another in the election, describing it as part of a healthy democratic process.

"We take the stand that competition is healthy in a democratic system.

"Ultimately, let the people decide who should represent them in that area," he said.

Yesterday, six Bersatu members of parliament signed a Confidence and Supply Agreement (CSA) with the Madani government at Parliament.

Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the agreement included the six MPs' commitment to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration until the end of the parliamentary term, including the 2027 Budget.

The other signatories, apart from Muhyiddin, were Radzi Jidin (Putrajaya), Datuk Ali Biju (Saratok), Datuk Suhaimi Abdullah (Langkawi), Datuk Dr Nazri Abu Hassan (Merbok) and Datuk Azman Nasrudin (Padang Serai).