Mas Ermieyati a CM candidate? Top leadership play it cool

 

Perikatan Nasional’s candidate for Tanjung Bidara state assembly, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin. - NSTP/MOHAMAD SHAHRIL BADRI SAALI

MELAKA: Four days after the Melaka state election nomination day, Perikatan Nasional (PN) has yet to nominate a chief minister candidate for the coalition.

Although the pact's state chief is Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen, talks among PN Melaka supporters are pointing to Deputy Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Mas Ermieyati to be PN's chief minister candidate.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan however played down the sentiment, saying PN has yet to determine its chief minister candidate should the coalition win the Nov 20 polls.

Wan Saiful said PN preferred to focus on winning the election first rather than immediately jumping into deciding on its chief ministerial candidate.

"We leave the decision to nominate a chief minister candidate to the top leadership. Discussion on this has actually started and we sort of have an idea of who that person would be.

"But, I believe it is better to let the top leadership announce the name," he said during a media conference with other PN state leadership here today.

Talk in this historical city is rife that Mas Ermieyati who is also the Masjid Tanah Member of Parliament would be the best chief minister candidate for PN to nominate.

Mas Ermieyati is contesting for the Tanjung Bidara seat against her former mentor Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh who is also Umno Melaka chief.

Given the weight both leaders carry in Melaka, political observers have voiced uncertainty over who would be able to win the seat.

So far, Barisan Nasional (BN) has named caretaker chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali as its chief minister candidate while Pakatan Harapan (PN) is nominating former chief minister Adly Zahari.

Asked on PN's manifesto launch, Wan Saiful said it would be announced soon despite the campaigning period having only eight days left.

"We will announce the manifesto that our coalition is offering in the next few days. We are confident that the offers will be able to ensure the stability and prosperity of Melakans.

"We hope Melaka voters will give their mandate to us because we need to ensure a stable political scene in this country as this will ensure that no other elections will be sparked during this global pandemic," he said. - NST