{
  "id": 7997038,
  "title": "Rauf: DAP's choice whether they want to contest 10 or 20 seats",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/rauf-daps-choice-whether-they-want-to-contest-10-or-20-seats",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T09:31:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/09/1534858/rauf-daps-choice-whether-they-want-contest-10-or-20-seats"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chief Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh stated that the DAP must decide the number of seats to contest in the upcoming Melaka election. Rauf emphasized that any seat allocation decision would only be made after negotiations between parties, should they occur. He affirmed that he has no authority to prevent any party from expressing their desire to contest any seat. Rauf stated that on a democratic platform, each party has the right to determine its approach and strategy, including the number of seats they wish to contest. He added that if the DAP decides to contest 10 or even 20 seats, it is entirely up to them. Rauf's comments come after the DAP announced its intentions to compete in several seats, including the Duyong constituency currently held by BN's Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abdul Halem. DAP's Melaka chairman Khoo Poay Tiong stated that Duyong was one of the seats the party could potentially win. The DAP also plans to defend the four seats they won in the previous election. In 2021, DAP's Damian Yeo Shen Li narrowly lost to Noor Helmy by a margin of only 200 votes. Prior to that, in 2018, DAP won the seat with a substantial margin of 2,895 votes. Rauf reiterated that the political landscape is open, and any party has the right to voice their intention to contest any seat, subject to negotiations between parties if those negotiations take place.",
  "summary": "MASJID TANAH: It is up to DAP to choose the number of seats to contest in the Melaka election, says Chief Minister and state Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.",
  "key_points": [
    "DAP must decide number of seats to contest in Melaka election.",
    "Chief Minister Ab Rauf has no authority to prevent seat allocation.",
    "DAP plans to contest 10 or 20 seats, including Duyong constituency."
  ],
  "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."
}