Rauf faces straight fight in bid for 2nd term at Tanjung Bidara

Melaka chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh faces a straight fight against a Pakatan Harapan candidate as the state Barisan Nasional chairman seeks a second term as the Tanjung Bidara assemblyman.

Rauf, who is also the Melaka Umno chief, is being challenged by PH’s Yunazri Mustamiri, of PKR.

Their candidacies were announced by Tanjung Bidara returning officer Saifuddin Abdul Karim at the nomination centre at Dewan Datuk Kapt (B) Hj Ab Karim, Kompleks Japerun Tanjung Bidara here this morning.

Saifuddin confirmed that no nominations had been rejected, with Rauf submitting his nomination papers at 9.03am, followed by Yunazri at 9.08am.

Earlier, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi accompanied Rauf to the nomination centre, together with Selangor BN chief Megat Zulkarnain Omardin and his deputy, Johan Abd Aziz.

Rauf was first elected assemblyman of the Malay-majority Tanjung Bidara seat in 2021, when he won with a slim majority of 364 votes ahead of his closest contender, Wanita Bersatu chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.

Yunazri, who is one of the seven new faces beng fielded by PKR, is the Melaka PKR Youth deputy treasurer.