Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) today released their respective list of candidates for the parliamentary and state seats in Melaka for the coming general election.

Keadilan Melaka secretary Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin will be contesting the Tanga Batu parliamentary seat. He was originally tipped to contest the new state seat of Bukit Baru against Melaka Menteri Besar Mohd Ali Rustam.

Shamsul said party leaders felt that he would fare better in the parliamentary seat against BN's Umno candidate Idris Haron as opposed to standing in Bukit Baru.

He also revealed that a PAS candidate, whom he described as "capable of taking on Ali Rustam", will be contesting in the state seat.

Keadilan will also contest for another parliamentary seat in the state, Bukit Katil. The party will field Khalid Jaffar who will do battle with Umno candidate Mohd Ruddin Abd Ghani.

For the state seats, the opposition party is fielding Shafee Ahmad (Bemban), S Jayathas (Merlimau), Zainon Jaafar (Air Limau), Abdul Wahab Ibrahim (Paya Rumput), Azmi Khamis (Asahan) and S Sivapatham (Gadek).

MCA, Umno lists

Meanwhile, MCA also unveiled its candidates for the state.

For the parliamentary seats, Wong Nai Chee will stand in Kota Melaka against DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock (right) while MCA vice-president Dr Fong Chan Onn (left) will defend his Alor Gajah constituency.

As for the state seats, the BN component party will be fielding Koh Nai Kwong (Kesidang), Lim Eng Teck (Kota Laksamana), Chok Choon Seng (Bandar Hilir) and Seet Ah Chao for the new Kelebang seat.

At press time only the list of Umno's parliamentary candidates was available. They were Abu Seman Yusop (Masjid Tanah), Mohd Said Yusof (Jasin), Idris Haron (Tangga Batu) and Mohd Ruddin (Bukit Katil).