Melaka Nominations Open Today as Battle for 28 Seats Begins

Nominations for the 16th Melaka state election open on Saturday (Oct 31), launching a 14-day campaign for the state’s 28 assembly seats, Bernama reported. Candidates are expected to hand in their papers between 9am and 10am at 28 nomination centres, after which returning officers will announce the final list of eligible candidates.

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed Nov 10 for early voting and Nov 14 as polling day. A total of 687,697 voters are eligible to cast their ballots, made up of 675,166 ordinary voters, 9,769 military personnel and their spouses, and 2,762 police personnel.

Melaka State Election Contest Takes Shape

As of Friday (Oct 30), 75 candidates had been announced by the five coalitions and parties preparing to contest, according to Bernama. Based on those announcements, the news agency said the polls were shaping up as 13 straight fights, 11 three-cornered fights and four four-cornered contests.

Pakatan Harapan is contesting 24 seats, split between PKR with 10 candidates and DAP and Amanah with seven each. Barisan Nasional named candidates for 22 seats, with UMNO fielding 18, MCA three and MIC one, Bernama reported on Friday.

Perikatan Nasional, described by Bernama as a strategic partner of BN, had named five candidates, two each from PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara and one from Gerakan, with one more seat yet to be finalised at the time. Bersatu is fielding eight candidates, while Parti Bersama Malaysia plans to put up 16.

In the 2021 state election, BN won 21 of the 28 seats and formed the government, while PH took five and PN two. The assembly was dissolved on Sept 23 with the consent of the Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam.

EC Rules for Nomination Papers

EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said 189 nomination forms had been sold and 45 prospective candidates had paid their deposits by Thursday night.

EC secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus said nomination papers may be handed to the returning officer by the candidate, proposer and seconder, or by any one or two of them. He advised candidates to have their forms checked in advance and to bring their deposit receipts on nomination day, adding that party candidates must also submit a letter authorising the use of their party’s symbol.

MACC Opens 24-Hour Operations Room

Separately, the Melaka branch of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said it would run a 24-hour operations room at its office in Taman Alai Perdana from Oct 31 until polling day, Bernama said in a separate report. The public can channel information and complaints on corruption and abuse of power during the election by email to prnmlk@sprm.gov.my, by calling 06-289 6000 or the operations room at 06-289 6303, or through the 24-hour hotline and WhatsApp at 011-2679 1569.

The commission also reminded candidates, parties and supporters to refrain from any actions that breach election laws, citing the MACC Act 2009 and the Election Offences Act 1954.

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