Credit : Bernama
TANJUNG BIDARA, October 31, 2026 – Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he will propose that Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh continue as Melaka Chief Minister if BN wins the 16th Melaka state election, Bernama reported.
The national news agency reported on X that Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, made the remark after accompanying Ab Rauf to hand in his nomination papers for the Tanjung Bidara seat at Dewan Datuk Kapt (B) Hj Ab Karim, Kompleks JAPERUN Tanjung Bidara, in Alor Gajah.
Zahid said the proposal was subject to the powers of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Dr Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, according to the Bernama report carried by Sinar Harian.
“We do not pre-empt the powers of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka, but I, as BN chairman, will propose Ab Rauf’s name to continue his service in Melaka,” he said.
“But first, we hand this mandate back to the people of Melaka. I hope (their support) will truly translate so that we can form the state government together with our strategic partners,” he added.
Call for a clean campaign
Zahid said he hoped Melaka voters would weigh the performance of the state government led by Ab Rauf before deciding on polling day. He said BN did not want slander or smear campaigns and that he expected the campaign in Melaka to be fairly calm, Sinar Harian reported. The Star also quoted him as urging all parties to avoid slander and dirty tactics.
UMNO 18 seats, MCA four, MIC one
Zahid confirmed that BN and its strategic partner Perikatan Nasional (PN) are contesting all 28 state seats together. “UMNO is contesting 18 seats, MCA four seats and MIC one seat. The rest are our partners in PN,” he said, adding that MCA had been given four seats despite talk that it might boycott the election.
The Election Commission’s (SPR) official count lists 23 BN candidates among the 79 candidates in the race, with Pakatan Harapan (PH) fielding 24, Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) 16, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) seven, PN five, Putra one and three independents.
Zahid had made a similar pledge on October 23 at the launch of BN’s Jasin parliamentary election machinery, Bernama reported at the time. In the 2021 Melaka state election, BN won 21 of the 28 seats and formed the state government, while PH won five seats and PN two, the agency said.
Earlier today, Ab Rauf’s nomination for Tanjung Bidara was confirmed, setting up a straight fight with PH candidate Mohd Yunazri Mustamiri, Buletin TV3 reported.
The SPR has fixed November 10 for early voting and November 14 as polling day.
Credit : Bernama
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