PKR’s Azman Abidin has confirmed he will contest the Paya Rumput state seat in the upcoming Melaka state election, while dismissing claims that PKR intends to take over DAP’s Ayer Keroh seat.
Azman, who is the political secretary to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Federal Territories PKR chief, said seats won by Pakatan Harapan (PH) at the last election would remain with the parties currently holding them.
He said this was agreed during discussions among PH leaders in Melaka.
“Perhaps media reports quoting PKR as saying it would contest Ayer Keroh were based on a misunderstanding.
“The statement about the Ayer Keroh seat referred to a PH component party contesting it, not PKR specifically,” he told FMT.
Azman stressed that relations among PH component parties remained harmonious and that they would work together in facing the state election.
DAP questions Ayer Keroh claim
Melaka DAP leader Kerk Chee Yee had earlier questioned a PKR leader’s call for the party to contest Ayer Keroh, which is considered a DAP stronghold.
Kerk, who represented Ayer Keroh from 2018 until the state assembly was dissolved last month, said PH’s seat negotiations in Melaka had already been concluded.
Azman confirms Paya Rumput candidacy
Azman said he would take responsibility and accept PKR’s decision on his candidacy to represent PH in Paya Rumput, putting to rest speculation over whether he would contest in the election.
In the 2021 state election, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Rais Yasin won Paya Rumput with a 629-vote majority.
Rais defeated four other candidates, including former Hang Tuah Jaya MP Shamsul Iskandar Akin, who contested under the PH banner, as well as candidates from Perikatan Nasional and independents.
The Election Commission has set Nov 14 as polling day for the 16th Melaka state election, with nomination scheduled for Oct 31.
According to the commission, 687,697 voters are eligible to cast their ballots, based on the latest electoral roll as of Sept 22.
