At a press conference held at the Umno headquarters here today, BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan said the coalition is fielding candidates for all 28 state seats.
“We (BN) will not be working with any other party and we will use our own logo to represent the plurality of the country’s multi-racial communities.
“There is no question of joining with any other party,” he added.
Mohamad also said Umno will field candidates for 20 state seats while MCA will put up seven candidates and MIC one.
Last week, Umno announced that it was still willing to work with PAS in facing the polls as long as the Islamist party used its own logo. Since then, however, PAS said it will contest under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner with its allies Bersatu and Gerakan.
Mohamad also said all candidates will have to sign agreements not to switch parties, warning that they would face disciplinary action as a result.
He said this was to ensure political stability in the state and for residents not to be affected by “political games without honour or morals”.
The election was called after four state assemblymen retracted their support for then chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali in October. They were former chief minister Idris Haron (Sungai Udang), Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas), and independent Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu). Idris and Nor Azman were sacked by Umno for their actions, while Noor Effandi got the boot from Bersatu.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim last night said Pakatan Harapan (PH) parties PKR and Amanah were likely to each take in one of the two former Umno assemblymen.
While he did not mention any names, he had said on Monday that PH was in the final stages of discussions with Idris and Nor Azman on “potentially running under the its banner”.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said BN was only fielding four incumbents. This means 86% of the candidates are new faces compared with 50% in the previous polls.
He added that 28% of BN’s candidates were aged 45 and below.
“Our candidates are a mix of experience and youth. We hope the Melaka government which we form after the elections can rule the state well.”
Mohamad said Sulaiman will remain BN’s choice for the post of chief minister should the coalition win the state election.
The BN candidates are: Rosli Nordin (Kuala Linggi), Abd Rauf Yusoh (Tanjung Bidara), Hameed Basheer (Ayer Limau), Sulaiman Md Ali (Lendu), Zulkifli Md Zin (Taboh Naning), Muhammad Jailani Khamis (Rembia), Panichelvam Pichamutu (Gadek), Koh Nai Kwong (Machap Jaya), Zahari Kalil (Durian Tunggal), Fairul Nizam Roslan (Asahan), Fasarul Md Isa (Sungai Udang), Mohamad Ali Mohamad (Pantai Kundor), Rais Yasin (Paya Rumput), Lim Ban Hong (Kelebang), Kalsom Nordin (Pengkalan Batu), Yong Fun Jual (Ayer Keroh), Hasnoor Husin (Bukit Katil), Rahmad Mariman (Ayer Molek), Ng Choon Koon (Kesidang), Melvin Chua Kew Wei (Kota Laksamana), Mohd Noor Helmy Abd Halen (Duyong), Lee Chong Leng (Bandar Hilir), Abd Razak Rahman (Telok Mas), Chin Han (Bemban), Khaidhirah Abu Zahar (Rim), Mohd Zaidi Atan (Serkam), Muhammad Akmal Saleh (Merlimau) and Hasan Abd Rahman (Sungai Rambai).