MELAKA: Many eyes will be on the Lendu, Asahan and Bukit Katil seats where the former chief minister and two of his predecessors face multiple contests in the Melaka state election.

       This is probably the first time in Melaka that former chief ministers are throwing their hat in.

       The most recent chief minister, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali of Barisan Nasional, and former chief ministers Adly Zahari and Datuk Seri Idris Haron, both representing Pakatan Harapan, are in for multi-cornered contests.

       Sulaiman is re-contesting his Lendu seat and will square off against Perikatan Nasional’s Maj (Rtd) Abdullah Mahadi and Pakatan’s Mohamad Asri Ibrahim.

       Adly, who was chief minister under the Pakatan administration, is staying put in Bukit Katil where he faces a four-cornered challenge against Datuk Hasnoor Sdg Husin (Barisan), Muhammad Al-Afiz Yahya (Perikatan) and Abdul Hamid (Independent).

       Observers said Idris, who triggered the state polls by withdrawing his support for Sulaiman’s administration together with three other assemblymen, will face the stiffest test.

       A six-cornered fight awaits him in Asahan.

       Barisan has fielded Fairul Nizam Roslan while Perikatan has Dhanesh Basil, with three Independents also in the mix.

       The seat will be a new battleground for Idris, who contested the Sungai Udang state seat in the 2013 and 2018 general elections as a Barisan candidate.