KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 -- Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) expects to announce its candidates and the seats it will contest in the Melaka state election as early as August, as it steps up preparations for what is expected to be the next round of polls after Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

Party president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said Bersama would need about another month to gauge voter sentiment before finalising the number of constituencies it intends to contest.

"By early August, we should have a clearer picture of the number of seats and constituencies we will contest in Melaka.

"Bersama's advantage as a multiracial party that has chosen to go solo is that it can contest in any constituency without being constrained by any party's traditio...