[UPDATED] Perikatan CM candidate to come from Bersatu, announcement soon: Muhyiddin

MELAKA – Should Perikatan Nasional (PN) win the state election here, the chief minister will come from Bersatu, according to coalition chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The former prime minister said this is only fair considering his party has the largest number of candidates (among PN components) contesting in the state polls.

Muhyiddin added that the party’s candidate for chief minister has also been identified, but said any announcement will only be made later.

“We will announce the name soon. But it will be before polling day. We will let you know,” he said during a press conference in Bemban here today.

“Because Bersatu has the largest number of seats (candidates) and since we have been given the mandate by out coalition partners PAS and Gerakan, the chief minister will come from Bersatu.

“That’s all I can say on the matter today.”

When asked why it is taking so long for PN to name its candidates when rival coalitions have announced theirs, Muhyiddin said this is part of its strategy to win the election.

“It is not necessary for us to announce it so soon, but it also can’t be that we don’t announce one at all. There must be someone. Many of our candidates deserve to be chief minister, so it is not a problem for us.”

So far, Barisan Nasional (BN) has announced that incumbent chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali will lead the administration if the party wins the polls, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) has named Adly Zahari – Sulaiman’s predecessor – as its choice.

Both BN and PH have also announced their respective manifestos. Muhyiddin said PN will reveal its own in a couple of days.

On Bersatu taking on MCA and DAP in Bemban, which has been traditionally won by Chinese candidates, Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, said he is unfazed by this and is confident the voters will make the right choice.

He said he is also confident that party candidate Mohd Yadzil Yaakub is the best choice to represent PN for the seat, based on his qualifications, service in the constituency, character, and young age.

Asked if PN will cooperate with other coalitions should no single party win the election, Muhyiddin said he does want to make any assumptions at the moment.

“It’s up to the voters. If they feel PN is the best, then there won’t be a hung government. But it is up to what the Melaka voters decide.” – The Vibes, November 12, 2021