KUALA LUMPUR – A polarising figure and not one to shy away from controversy, caretaker state speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh is expected to enter the fray in the Melaka polls.
According to Utusan Malaysia, the Umno strongman is eyeing the Tg Bidara seat, one that Barisan Nasional (BN) won with the biggest majority in the 2018 General Election. Umno’s Md Rawi Mahmud got 4,865 votes and won by 58.15% against Pakatan Harapan (PH) and PAS.
Rauf, who is also Melaka BN chairman, is often said to be the one in charge since the political crisis started and was denounced by PH as the hand behind the push for the polls.
He was accused of manoeuvring the dissolution of the state assembly and even announcing it with the state secretary and the Election Commission (EC).
This was said to end former chief minister and Umno member Datuk Seri Idris Haron’s attempt to take over the state government.
Earlier, Idris alluded Rauf’s involvement to “two lions on the same mountain”.
BN is expected to announce its candidates tomorrow, promising new faces and that it will contest in all 28 seats.
It was reported that only incumbents Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali (Lendu), Datuk Rahmad Mariman (Ayer Molek) and Datuk Zaidi Atan (Serkam) are contesting, and at least two Umno division chiefs – Datuk Hasan Abd Rahman (Jasin) and Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafaar Atan (Alor Gajah) – are left in the cold.
Umno’s Tangga Batu chief will be facing Pantai Kundor incumbent Datuk Nor Azman Hassan – one of the Melaka 4 who triggered the snap polls.
Umno’s Hang Tuah Jaya division chief Datuk Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali will be contesting Pengkalan Batu whose incumbent is former DAP man Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee, also a part of the Melaka 4.
Ridhwan’s deputy, Datuk Hasnoor Sidang Husin, will run for Bukit Katil, whose incumbent is Melaka PH chief and former chief minister Adly Zahari.
The Melaka election is to be held following the dissolution of the state assembly on October 4 after four assemblymen withdrew support for the leadership of chief minister, who is an Umno man.
The EC has fixed November 20 for voting, November 8 for nominations, and early voting will be held on November 16. – The Vibes, November 5, 2021
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