MELAKA, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Pakatan Harapan (PH) is not ruling out contesting all 28 seats in the upcoming Melaka state election if the situation requires, said PH Election Director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Amirudin, who is also Selangor Menteri Besar, said PH was currently expected to contest between 18 and 21 seats, but the final decision would depend on the central leadership, particularly the PH Presidential Council.
“That is almost certain. At least 18, and 21 at most (for now). However, if the situation requires it, we may contest all 28 seats,” he told a press conference after officiating at the PH Melaka Main Operations Room in Bukit Baru here today.
Also present were PH Melaka chairman Adly Zahari, DAP Melaka chairman Khoo Poay Tiong and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) Melaka chairman Datuk Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat.
Amirudin said PH Melaka was prepared for various possibilities, including contesting on its own, forming cooperation with other parties or joining a larger coalition, depending on the decision of the central leadership.
“We are prepared to contest all the seats and are also ready to add seats that we can win in this election,” he said.
On candidate selection, Amirudin said the respective component parties were finalising their lists and the names were expected to be announced in about a week.
He said the date for the official announcement would be coordinated with the schedule of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PH chairman, with at least three or four days' notice to be given before the announcement ceremony.
On negotiations with Barisan Nasional (BN), Amirudin said the matter was still being considered by the top leadership and that he did not want to make any early assumptions before an official decision was finalised.
Yesterday, the Election Commission set Nov 14 as polling day for the 16th Melaka state election, while nomination day will be Oct 31 and early voting on Nov 10.
The 2021 Melaka state election saw BN win 21 of the 28 seats contested to form the state government, while PH won five seats and Perikatan Nasional secured two.
-- BERNAMA