She is determined to repay her party, Bersatu, for its trust in her to contribute one seat to Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the Melaka state election although she has had to deal with the negative label over the past three years.

“The ‘traitor’ label is not just now but has been the case from before. Whatever label or title that has been given to me from three years ago, I am determined to render my services to Masjid Tanah, and to always meet my constituents. I have not left them.

“I still continue to provide help. I still try to do my best,” she told Bernama here today.

Mas Ermieyati, 45, will be standing for election in the Tanjung Bidara state seat on Nov 20. It is one of the five state seats under the Masjid Tanah parliamentary constituency.

The former shariah lawyer, who is also the vice-chief of Srikandi (the Bersatu women’s wing) will be contesting against “heavyweights” from Barisan Nasional (Ab Rauf Yusoh) and Pakatan Harapan (Zainal Hassan).

Asked if she would quit her post as deputy law minister if she won the seat, Mas Ermieyati said she was capable of dividing her time to fulfil both responsibilities.

“There is no rule to say I should resign as deputy minister as each of us is given 24 hours a day, and it is all about how one manages one’s time and responsibilities.

“If you are given the responsibility but you are nowhere to be seen, then it is useless.

“If I am elected as the Tanjung Bidara assemblyman, I will know how to divide my tasks as even now, I still have time to be in the area three or four times a week,” she said.

Mas Ermieyati, who is also the Masjid Tanah Bersatu division chief, was previously the Puteri Umno chief before leaving the party in July 2018, two months after the 14th general election.

She officially joined Bersatu in December 2018.