MELAKA, Oct 23 — Barisan Nasional (BN) will announce its candidates for the Melaka State Election, with PAS and its strategic partners, tomorrow, said its chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, said BN will contest 21 seats, while PAS and its strategic partners will contest seven seats, based on the seat allocation agreed upon thus far.

“God willing, on the same stage and in the same hall, we will make the announcement (regarding the candidates for BN, PAS, and the strategic partners),” he told reporters after chairing a meeting of BN Supreme Council at Melaka International Trade Centre here last night.

Regarding the distribution of seats among BN component parties, Ahmad Zahid noted that the matter has been finalised based on the projected winnability of each party in the respective constituencies.

He added that PAS and its strategic partners have also held meetings to discuss the allocation of seats among themselves.

“God willing, everything will be resolved smoothly... everything has been finalised in accordance with the number of seats we have mutually agreed upon,” he said.

In a related development, Ahmad Zahid announced that the Chief Minister, who also serves as the Melaka BN chairman, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, has been appointed as the BN election director for this state election.

He explained that Ab Rauf has taken over the role from Umno deputy president and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who has overseas commitments during the campaign period.

“As it happened, during the campaign period in Melaka, he (Mohamad) had numerous overseas commitments including attending Commonwealth meetings, representing the country at regional gatherings, participating in the Asean Summit, and visiting several other nations,” he said.

The Election Commission has set November 14 as polling day for the Melaka state election, with nomination day on October 31 and early voting on November 10.

In the 2021 Melaka state election, BN won 21 out of the 28 contested State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) secured five seats and Perikatan Nasional (PN) won two. — Bernama