Peluang kekal KM bukan ‘habuan politik’, kata Rauf

Ab Rauf Yusoh, the chairperson of the Barisan Nasional (BN) in Melaka, remains confident in his prospects to continue serving as the state's chief minister despite Zahid Hamidi's suggestion that he might be considered for the role if the BN coalition wins the PRN election on November 14. Rauf insists that his current priority is securing as many seats as possible to enable the BN to continue governing the state, rather than focusing on his potential future role.

He stated, "I do not consider this as a political maneuver. The most important thing is that we must work to win the election. There is no use worrying if we cannot achieve victory."

Rauf was appointed as Melaka's 13th chief minister on March 31, 2023, succeeding Sulaiman Ali. When discussing the upcoming Tanjung Bidara contest, Rauf refused to be overly confident about retaining his seat. "However, I believe in the capabilities of our party and the experience I possess are not easily replaced by others," he said.

Facing opposition from Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Yunazri Mustamiri, Rauf is open to any contender, but stresses that any candidate must first understand the local community's life and needs. He cautioned against using a big name solely to influence voters, as this may not benefit the local residents, especially if the candidate does not reside in the area.

"To represent the people, we must first be the people," he emphasized. Rauf added that he grew up in Tanjung Bidara, the son of a rubber tapper and housewife, gaining firsthand knowledge of local changes and community needs from a young age. He intends to leverage his experience to bring about better development, particularly ensuring future generations enjoy a higher quality of life.