Melaka:The 16th Melaka State Election commences tomorrow with the nomination of candidates, beginning a 14-day campaign period as political contenders vie for 28 state assembly seats.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the nomination process will take place across 28 centres, where candidates from various political parties are expected to submit their nomination papers between 9 am and 10 am. Following this, returning officers will announce the final list of eligible candidates.
The Election Commission (EC) has designated November 14 as the polling day for the Melaka state election, with early voting scheduled for November 10. EC statistics indicate that a total of 687,697 voters are eligible to participate, including 675,166 ordinary voters, 9,769 military personnel and their spouses, and 2,762 police personnel.
Political parties are unveiling their candidate lists as the electoral contest takes shape. Pakatan Harapan (PH) will contest 24 seats, with PKR fielding 10 candidates, and DAP and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) seven each. Barisan Nasional (BN) is contesting 22 seats, with UMNO fielding 18 candidates, MCA three, and MIC one. Perikatan Nasional (PN) has named candidates for five seats, comprising two each from PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara, and one from Gerakan, with one seat yet to have a finalised candidate.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) plans to contest eight seats, while Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) intends to field 16 candidates. Meanwhile, EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun reported that 189 nomination forms have been sold as of last night, with 45 prospective candidates having paid their deposits.
EC secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus advised that nomination papers must be submitted by the candidate, proposer, and seconder, or by any two or one of them. He also recommended that forms be checked by the returning officer's office or the Melaka State Election Office before nomination day, with deposits paid in advance. The deposit payment receipt must be presented on nomination day, and candidates representing political parties must submit a letter authorising the use of their party symbols.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department has forecast favourable weather conditions across Melaka for the day. The Melaka State Legislative Assembly was dissolved on September 23 with the consent of the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam. In the 2021 Melaka state election, BN won 21 of the 28 seats, forming the state government, while PH secured five seats and PN two.