Bersatu takes swipe at PAS over two-seat contest in Melaka polls

PAS's decision to only contest two seats in the upcoming Melaka state election has prompted criticism from its Perikatan Nasional (PN) partner Bersatu. Bersatu information chief Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz expressed skepticism over PAS's claims of political prowess, questioning why a party that has long projected itself as a major force has settled for such a limited share of the contest.

Tun Faisal pointed out the discrepancy between PAS's earlier ambition to contest 16 of the 28 seats in Melaka, following their strong performance in the 15th General Election (GE15), and the final allocation of only two constituencies. He also noted that PAS had to reduce its demands during negotiations with coalition partners, with seven seats initially allocated to PAS and its allies, but one eventually going to MCA and the rest distributed among coalition partners.

Pascoal's initial ambitions notwithstanding, PAS's ability to translate its political strength into electoral support remains questionable, given their lack of success in contesting across the entire state. Bersatu, in a bid to rebuild its position in Melaka and provide a check on the state administration, has pledged to contest seven seats.

The party's challenge to PAS to contest all 28 seats underscores its confidence in its principles and loyalty to its members.