PN’s Mas Ermieyati offers commitment, performance record in bid to win BN stronghold

Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) candidate for the Tanjung Bidara state seat in Melaka, today pledged her commitment to ensuring the welfare of some 10,000 voters in the constituency.

Mas Ermieyati, who will face off with Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Ab Rauf Yusoh and Zainal Hassan from Pakatan Harapan (PH), said all three candidates stand an equal chance of winning despite the seat’s reputation as a BN stronghold.

“It depends on the wisdom of the voters to evaluate my record as an MP and my service to the people,” she said at a press conference after the end of the nomination period today.

Mas Ermieyati is MP for Masjid Tanah, a parliamentary seat which she has held for two terms. She is also a former Puteri Umno chief.

Now a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, she said the election this time around was a chance for her to restore trust to the voters after winning her Masjid Tanah seat on a BN ticket during the 14th general election.

“Let the people decide,” she said. “Some vote based on the candidate while others decide based on the party or qualifications.

“What I offer is my commitment and performance.”

Asked about talk that she is PN’s candidate for chief minister, she said she was only a normal candidate and had no knowledge of the matter.

She also said that the constraints of the health SOPs during the campaign period would pose a challenge to new candidates, giving an advantage to those who have contested elections before.

Rauf, her main rival, has never run in an election before.

Mas Ermieyati said her party would boost its use of social media given the physical restraints throughout the election period.

“Of course, the young people are the biggest users of social media. But we cannot overlook the elderly,” she said, noting as well platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Under the SOPs set by the Election Commission, no physical ceramahs, walkabouts and house visits are allowed.