[UPDATED] Ab Rauf: BN to announce Melaka candidates on Oct 28

MELAKA: Caretaker Melaka Chief Minister and state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the coalition would announce its candidates on Oct 28.

"God willing, I will announce the candidates on the 28th. Whoever is selected will carry the torch of UMNO and BN's struggle.

"We are determined to win and determined not to suffer another defeat," he said at the launch of the BN Tangga Batu parliamentary constituency election machinery in Sungai Udang tonight.

Also present were state BN deputy chairman and Tangga Batu Umno division chief Datuk Rais Yasin, Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, and Kedah Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

Speaking at a press conference after the event, Ab Rauf said BN was determined to defend the 21 state seats it won in the previous Melaka election, while hoping to secure more seats this time.

He said the target was intended to motivate party machinery to work harder to secure a convincing victory, including in seats contested by candidates from other parties that had reached political understandings with BN.

He also reminded party machinery to work towards securing another public mandate for BN in the coming election to prevent a repeat of the bitter experience of 2018.

"Once was enough, and we will not go back to that. In this election, Umno and BN will once again lead the team that champions the people of Melaka, for the people and by the people," he said.