Melaka PN chief backs Mas Ermieyati as CM candidate

Melaka Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen today voiced his support for Mas Ermieyati Samsudin as the coalition’s candidate for chief minister in the event that it wins the Melaka state election tomorrow.

He said Mas’ nomination did not jeopardise his stand towards Bersatu or the party’s leadership, and that he would continue with his campaign as PN’s candidate in Telok Mas.

“As Melaka PN chairman, I give my full support for the decision and ask that PN’s machinery throughout the state work hard to ensure success for all of its candidates,” he said to reporters when met after Friday prayers at Masjid Al Khairiah in Telok Mas together with PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.

Rafiq, who is Bersatu vice-president, had been one of the names bandied about in talk on the position of chief minister.

When asked if he was not nominated because Bersatu had rejected the suggestion, Rafiq said this was only speculation.

He also disputed claims by DAP leader Lim Guan Eng that PN’s decision not to choose him as its candidate for chief minister was a sign that it would lose in the state seat.

“That is his personal opinion,” he said. “I don’t want to respond to the claims he makes.

“But I am confident that I have gone down to the ground and met with voters at mosques, suraus and eateries. Support for PN is strong and positive,” he said, adding that he believed this support would be made known on voting day tomorrow.