MELAKA: Bersatu is aiming to win as many as possible of the seven seats it is contesting in the Melaka election to strengthen its presence as an opposition party in the state assembly.
Its Information chief Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said the party was also targeting to retain its two existing seats, Sungai Udang and Bemban.
He said a stronger opposition presence in the Melaka State Legislative Assembly was important to ensure effective checks and balances and encourage healthy competition in the state administration.
“If the people give our representatives the opportunity to voice their concerns in the state assembly, they can fulfil the role of providing checks and balances.
“Although it is too early to say, Bersatu wants to win as many seats as possible by fielding candidates capable of providing checks and balances,” he said when met today.
Tun Faisal said the party was also open to working with other parties, provided such cooperation did not compromise its principles.
Commenting on PH election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari’s statement that component parties should respect the coalition’s decision to give way to a Bersatu candidate in Bemban, he said the party hoped the arrangement would help it win the seat.
“If this can help Bersatu win Bemban, we are open to cooperation and assistance from any party, as long as our principles are not compromised,” he said.
Melaka has 28 state constituencies, with 79 candidates contesting in the election. Pakatan Harapan is fielding 24 candidates, followed by Barisan Nasional with 23.
Bersama is fielding 16 candidates, Bersatu seven, Perikatan Nasional five and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) one, while three candidates are contesting as Independents.
Meanwhile, a Bersatu source said the party’s decision to withdraw from contesting the Gadek seat was to make way for Putra candidate Laila Norinda Maon.
The source said the decision was not due to technical factors or other reasons, but was made in the spirit of camaraderie through the Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat movement.