KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (pic) is Perikatan Nasional’s candidate for Chief Minister should the party win the Melaka state election.

       At a press conference on Thursday (Nov 18) at the coalition headquarters in Publika, chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the coalition was making history as Mas Ermieyati was the first woman to be put up as the potential Chief Minister.

       "Melaka voters want a clean and experienced leader that has a good track record. She possesses all these qualities and is an easy candidate to accept.

       "Melaka knows her as she has been a politician there for a long time and her experiences as deputy minister," he said.

       Muhyiddin added that as far as he was concerned, he was fine being labelled the underdog of the state election.

       "That is ok, putting us as the underdog. But don’t underestimate the wisdom of the voters there.

       "Take Sabah for example, PN was only three weeks old when we contested there. Now we have been in power for around a year now," he said.

       Mas Ermieyati, who was present at the press conference, expressed her gratitude to the coalition.

       "This is not just a sign of appreciation to me, but to all women. But let me win first then we can discuss my plans for Melaka.

       "So far the campaign has gone well and I hope the voters there will give me a chance," she said.

       Mas Ermieyati is representing Bersatu in Tanjung Bidara in the Melaka state election on Nov 20.