MELAKA, Oct 25 — Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged the coalition’s machinery to strengthen unity and intensify groundwork immediately for the 16th Melaka State Legislative Assembly election.

He said all coalition machinery members must play their roles and work together as a unit to ensure thorough preparations for the election.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, stressed the need for cooperation and cohesion among all coalition machinery members to ensure election work is carried out effectively.

“Our movement must start now. Our efforts, our hard work, our campaigning efforts,” he said, speaking at the BN candidates’ announcement ceremony at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) here last night.

At the event, BN announced its list of candidates for the state election, with the coalition contesting 21 of the 28 State Legislative Assembly seats.

Meanwhile, Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh expressed confidence that selecting eight new faces as candidates would help garner support and maintain BN’s dominance in all 21 seats.

He said the selection of the eight new faces as BN candidates was made after taking into account studies of the conditions and needs of each constituency.

The eight new candidates are Datuk Abdul Hakim Abdul Wahid (Lendu), Norazril Abdul Aziz (Rembia), S. Nadarajah (Gadek), Datuk Dr Mustafa Musa (Durian Tunggal), Siti Aisyah Mahmood (Pengkalan Batu), Datuk Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali (Ayer Molek), Datuk Azman Abdullah (Serkam), and Jezleel Pit (Sungai Rambai).

“The selection aims to provide space for new faces to continue serving the local population, besides ensuring that the agenda implemented by the government during the previous term can be continued.

“As for candidates who were not nominated, I did not drop them. Some chose not to continue in office. So we are giving room to these new faces,” he told a press conference after the event.

He expressed hope that all selected candidates would work hard and remain committed to securing victory in their respective seats and defending those won in the previous state election.

The Melaka State Assembly was dissolved on September 23 to make way for the state election. The Election Commission (EC) has set November 14 as polling day, with nominations on October 31 and early voting on November 10. — Bernama