MELAKA: A four-cornered fight is set for the Bukit Katil state seat in the Nov 14 Melaka election, with incumbent Datuk Seri Adly Zahari, 55, bracing for a tough battle as he seeks a third consecutive term.
The Melaka Pakatan Harapan chairman acknowledged that the contest would be challenging, particularly with cooperation between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.
“This is my third time contesting an election, and I cannot deny that this is one of the tougher challenges, especially with the cooperation between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.
“We also have candidates from Parti Bersama Malaysia and an independent candidate, and I am not underestimating any of them,” he told reporters after the nomination process at Dewan Tun Ali in Bukit Katil on Saturday (Oct 31).
Adly, who is also Deputy Defence Minister and former Melaka chief minister, faces PAS candidate Muhammad Ridzuan Mohd Sarif, 42, representing Perikatan, independent candidate Abu Bakar Sabudin, 61, and Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) candidate Dr Aliza Che Amran, 46.
The Amanah leader said his eight years of service in Bukit Katil would allow voters to assess his track record.
“We have served the constituency for eight years and were also part of the state government for 22 months.
“We leave it to the people to evaluate what we have done. Whatever their decision, we will respect it, but we are appealing for another opportunity to serve a third term,” he said.
Adly also urged voters to support Pakatan candidates in all 24 state seats being contested by the coalition.
He said his priorities, if re-elected, would include expanding digital education opportunities for children and entrepreneurs, as well as completing a planned health polyclinic.
He added that approval and funding for the polyclinic had already been secured from the Health Ministry.
Earlier, Adly arrived at the nomination centre accompanied by Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, while Muhammad Ridzuan was accompanied by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and party secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
All four candidates were confirmed to contest the seat following the close of nominations.
Adly first won Bukit Katil in the 2018 general election before retaining it in the 2021 Melaka state election with a majority of 1,057 votes.
