{
  "id": 18887599,
  "title": "Winning Kesidang could pave way to Putrajaya, says Rauf",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/winning-kesidang-could-pave-way-to-putrajaya-says-rauf-18887599",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T06:49:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/11/08/winning-kesidang-could-pave-way-to-putrajaya-says-rauf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Melaka's Barisan Nasional chairman, Ab Rauf Yusoh, believes that a coalition with Perikatan Nasional could help his party win the Kesidang seat from DAP in the upcoming Melaka election and strengthen their chances of returning to Putrajaya. Rauf Yusoh, the BN chairman, expressed confidence in PN candidate Albert Kok, a local native, to serve the area well if elected on November 14. He elaborated that BN once represented the constituency but lost it for two terms. \"We can win the seat this time if we have a well-planned and organized campaign,\" he said after visiting BN's operation room in Kesidang.\n\nRauf Yusoh instructed all Umno and BN machinery, including MCA and MIC, to collaborate with PN to ensure Kesidang returns to Muafakat Melaka. Both coalitions are contesting the election, with BN targeting 23 of the 28 seats, while PN is fielding candidates in the remaining five constituencies. In the 2021 election, Pakatan Harapan's Seah Shoo Chin retained Kesidang with 14,769 votes, beating BN's Leong Hui Ying, who received 4,532 votes, and PN's Ng Chin Kae, who secured 3,124 votes. The upcoming election will see Kok competing against Seah and Bersama candidate Dr Bryan Kek for the Kesidang seat.",
  "summary": "Melaka BN chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh says the coalition is confident of recapturing the DAP-held seat through its cooperation with PN.",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}