At an event here today, PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the federal deputy law minister would helm the state government should the coalition win Saturday’s election.

Mas Ermieyati is contesting the Tanjung Bidara seat in a three-cornered fight where she is going up against Melaka Umno chief Abd Rauf Yusoh and Pakatan Harapan’s Zainal Hassan.

Muhyiddin said PN’s nomination makes Mas Ermieyati, 45, the first woman to be named a chief minister-designate in a state or general election.

“PN always gives everyone a chance. For us, it’s not important whether a man or woman holds important posts. This is historic for Melaka,” he said.

He said he was also confident that Melaka voters were not concerned about the gender of PN’s chief minister-designate, and that they were more focused on whether the candidate was trustworthy and had a strong track record.

“I think it will be easy for the voters to accept her because of her good nature, and she is a veteran politician as well,” he said.

Touching on claims that voters felt the Melaka election was a two-horse race between Barisan Nasional and PH, Muhyiddin said he had no qualms about PN being categorised as an underdog.

“Take Sabah for example. At that time, we were contesting as PN, which was just formed three weeks prior,” he said.

“But now we have formed a government for more than a year, and we have proven that we are capable.”

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