By MIKE PAUL
MELAKA, Nov 12 — The Melaka election campaign has entered its final 48 hours, with 79 candidates making a last push for 28 state assembly seats before campaigning closes at 11.59pm on Friday (Nov 13) and voters head to the polls on Saturday (Nov 14).
A total of 687,697 people are eligible to vote in the 16th Melaka state election, according to the Election Commission (EC). They comprise 675,166 ordinary voters, 9,769 military personnel and their spouses, and 2,762 police personnel.
Early voting close to EC target
Early voting on Tuesday (Nov 10) recorded a turnout of 94.96 per cent, with 9,417 of the 9,917 security personnel and spouses eligible to vote in person casting their ballots at 31 centres across the state, Bernama reported. The figure was marginally below the EC’s 95 per cent target.
EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said 237 election offences had been reported to the commission’s monitoring teams as of Monday night (Nov 9). “Campaigning has proceeded smoothly so far, with no major incidents reported,” he told reporters, urging all parties to campaign responsibly and in an orderly manner.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail separately said the campaign had remained under control, with no security threats reported.
Who is in the race
Pakatan Harapan (PH) is fielding 24 candidates and Barisan Nasional (BN) 23, with BN working alongside Perikatan Nasional (PN) under a seat arrangement. Newcomer Parti Bersama Malaysia and independent candidates are also in the race.
In the 2021 state election, BN won 21 of the 28 seats, PH took five and PN two. The state assembly was dissolved on Sept 23 this year.
Final push on both sides
Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh has said he is confident of capturing up to 26 seats by retaining BN’s 21 seats from 2021 and through its cooperation with PN, The Vibes reported.
PH, meanwhile, has made BN’s record in the state government a central campaign theme, questioning the delivery of earlier manifesto commitments, Malay Mail reported. DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who quit the Cabinet this week, has also been campaigning in the state.
On Thursday, UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan reminded BN’s election machinery not to become complacent, describing the closing phase of the campaign as a critical period. BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said earlier he hoped Saturday’s turnout would be higher than that of early voting.
Melaka is the third state election this year, following Johor in July and Negeri Sembilan in August. TNS News earlier examined what the Negeri Sembilan result signalled for the coalitions.
What voters need to know
Voters are advised to check their polling centre and stream before Saturday through the Election Commission’s official portal. Results are expected to be announced after polls close on the same day.
– TNS News