MELAKA: PAS is poised to contest Merlimau, with a party insider claiming Barisan Nasional has agreed to make way for its party's Melaka commissioner, Zulkifli Ismail.
The insider said Zulkifli, who is currently the MP for Jasin, would contest the state seat held by Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh in the upcoming Melaka polls.
Merlimau falls within the Jasin parliamentary constituency.
“Yes, it’s true Ustaz Tuan Zulkifli is the candidate for Merlimau.
“Wait for Oct 31 for nomination, Bro,” he said when contacted by The Star on Thursday (Oct 15).
Asked whether Dr Muhamad Akmal was agreeable to Barisan giving way to PAS in his constituency, the insider replied: “Yes".
The claim comes a day after Dr Muhamad Akmal hinted at leaving Merlimau, naming Serkam and Sungai Rambai as possible constituencies to contest.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Oct 14), he thanked Merlimau voters before asking where he should contest next.
However, Dr Muhamad Akmal has yet to confirm whether he will defend the seat or move to another constituency.
He won Merlimau in the 2021 Melaka state election with 5,633 votes, defeating Pakatan Harapan candidate Azrin Ab Majid, who received 2,385 votes, and Perikatan Nasional candidate Abd Alim Shapie, who garnered 1,622 votes.
Dr Muhamad Akmal retained the seat for Barisan with a majority of 3,248 votes.
The Election Commission has fixed Nov 14 as polling day for the Melaka state election, with nominations on Oct 31 and early voting on Nov 10.
