Melaka polls: Sanusi turns up to back Pas candidate in Paya Rumput

In the upcoming 16th Melaka election, three political factions - Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional and Bersama - are vying for control of the Paya Rumput seat. Datuk Azman Abidin, the political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is the candidate from PKR-Phalanx. He will face Rafie Ahmad, a member of Perikatan Nasional and Pas, and Abdul Rashid Abu Bakar from Bersama.

Returning officer Safuan Effendy Mat Ghani confirmed the three-way contest after accepting all three nomination papers. Azman submitted his papers first at 9.01am, Rafie followed close behind at 9.05am, and Abdul Rashid arrived last at 9.17am. The candidates will be listed on the ballot paper in the order of Rafie (PN), Abdul Rashid (Bersama), and Azman (PH).

Azman, who arrived at the nomination centre at 8.40am, was accompanied by PH election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and over 200 supporters. Rafie, the deputy chief of Hang Tuah Pas Jaya, arrived at 9am alongside PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar. Over 400 supporters from both PN and Barisan Nasional (BN) gathered to support Rafie.

Abdul Rashid, 37, a Syariah lawyer, also arrived at the nomination centre at 9.15am. Prior to joining Bersama in May, he served as the central permanent chairman of PKR Youth from 2018 to 2025. In the 2021 state election, BN's Datuk Rais Yasin retained the seat with 6,830 votes, a majority of 629. PH's Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin came in second with 6,201 votes, while PN's Muhammad Faris Izwan Mazlan secured 3,972 votes. Rais will not stand in this election and has been fielded for Sungai Udang.

Voting is scheduled for November 14, while early voting will occur on November 10.