MELAKA: Three-cornered fights are expected to be in all seats in the coming Melaka state polls.

Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has announced that his party is not going to collaborate with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), and it is therefore almost certain that all state seats will see three-cornered fights, especially in Malay seats traditionally held by Umno.

It will be a battle among Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan in the coming state elections.

State seats under Kota Melaka and Hang Tuah Jaya parliamentary constituencies will see three-cornered fights too as Parti Gerakan Rakyat is joining the fray, too.

It is learned that negotiations between Gerakan and PN have reached the final stage where the Gerakan will field its candidates to contest in Bandar Hilir, Kota Laksamana, Kesidang and Ayer Keroh.

The candidatures are pending approval from party headquarters.

In the last general elections in 2018, Pakatan Harapan won all five state seats under Kota Melaka, namely Bandar Hilir, Kesidang, Kota Laksamana, Duyong and Teluk Mas.

However, the Teluk Mas state seat, won by Bersatu, went to PN after the Sheraton Move.

Gerakan has been focusing on Pengkalan Batu, formerly known as Bachang.

Gerakan withdrew from BN after the 2018 elections and joined PN later.

Gerakan used to win Pengkalan Batu, a mixed constituency, in the past under its former name Bachang.

It is learned that other parties under PN are also keen to field their candidates in Pengkalan Batu while Gerakan is still trying to lobby to contest in the state seat.

The Election Commission has set Nov 8 as nomination day and Nov 20 as polling day.