MELAKA: It was bitter defeat for Datuk Seri Idris Haron who failed to win the Asahan state seat, where he was born and bred.

       The former Melaka chief minister, who contested under the Pakatan Harapan banner, had hoped to woo voters with local issues such as land reclamation but to no avail.

       Idris lost to Barisan Nasional’s Fairul Nizam Roslan in a six-cornered contest.

       The former Umno strongman was expelled from the party after he led a group of assemblyman – Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu), Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas) and Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor) – who retracted their support for the previous Perikatan state government.

       The Melaka state assembly was dissolved on Oct 5, paving the way for a state election.

       Meanwhile, Norhizam Hassan Baktee, who contested as Independent in Pengkalan Batu, said he accepted his defeat.

       The seat was won by Barisan’s Datuk Kalsom Noordin.

       “I know I have been reduced from a hero to zero but I am happy to have managed to garner over 1,000 votes. No independent has achieved such a high number of votes in the history of Melaka.”

       Norhizam said he has served his constituents well and hopes that they now could depend on their newly elected representative.

       “Let me remind the constituents in Pengkalan Batu that you would never get a colourful assemblyman like me,

       “Good luck to all of you,” he said.

       Norhizam said he will continue to operate his business and would probably retire from politics.