KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 -- Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) has announced it will sit out the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election, choosing instead to redirect its resources toward the Melaka state election expected later this year.

The announcement comes days after the party suffered a heavy defeat in its electoral debut in Johor.

In a statement yesterday, Bersama leaders Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Syukri Razab said the party would not field candidates when nomination day opens in Negeri Sembilan this Saturday.

They cited the intensity of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional's (BN) contest there, the former's position as the incumbent state government, and the election's potential to influence other unreso...