{
  "id": 16337015,
  "title": "PH to contest only 21 seats in Melaka polls",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/ph-to-contest-only-21-seats-in-melaka-polls",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T14:48:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/24/ph-to-contest-only-21-seats-in-melaka-polls"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakatan Harapan (PH) has announced it will only contest 21 of the 28 seats in the upcoming Melaka state election on November 14. The party will select former chief minister Adly Zahari as their candidate for the Bukit Katil seat. PH secretary Azman Abidin will stand in Paya Rumput, while Ginie Lim will contest Machap Jaya. Other candidates include Kerk Chee Yee for Ayer Keroh, Jason Tze-Xi Nathan for Pengkalan Batu, and Farzana Hayani for Klebang. PH will not contest seven seats, including Bemban, due to speculation of a potential electoral understanding with Bersatu. Despite PH maintaining that it would contest the election independently, there have been rumors of an understanding with Bersatu following a dinner between PH and Bersatu leaders last month, which did not include DAP representatives. Anwar Ibrahim praised Adly's competence as a former chief minister, noting his win with a 3,159-vote majority in the 2018 general election and subsequent retention in the 2021 state election. Nomination day for the Melaka election is set for October 31, with early voting on November 10 and polling day on November 14.",
  "summary": "The coalition will field candidates in 21 of the state’s 28 constituencies, amid speculation of a possible electoral understanding with Bersatu.",
  "key_points": [
    "Pakatan Harapan to contest 21 out of 28 Melaka seats",
    "Adly Zahari selected as PH candidate for Bukit Katil",
    "PH will not contest seven seats, including Bemban"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}