Don't turn Melaka polls into battleground, says Johari

MELAKA: Elections should not be turned into "battlegrounds" that breed animosity between parties and their supporters, says Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani as the Melaka election gets under way.

Johari said despite the political competition, the polls must uphold the spirit of democracy and voters' right to choose their assemblymen for the next five years.

"This is a contest to elect a representative. It is not for us to make enemies with anyone," he said after accompanying Barisan Nasional's Ayer Molek candidate Datuk Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali for nominations.

"It is up to the people of Ayer Molek to choose the best leader to be their assemblyman for the next five years."

In the 2022 general election, Ridhwan lost his bid for the Hang Tuah Jaya parliamentary seat. This time, the former senator is contesting a state seat.

Johari said Ridhwan's defeat in 2022 did not define his political journey.

"I want to tell Datuk Ridhwan that in elections, losing is not the end. I myself have lost. I won first, then lost, then won again. This is normal.

"In the process of becoming a leader, we learn a lot from our mistakes."

Johari said BN was also not exempt from this process, which allowed the coalition to better understand the people's needs and develop a new generation of leaders who understood the history of its struggle.

He said Ridhwan's candidacy reflected BN's commitment to giving younger leaders opportunities.

Johari added that Ridhwan was not lacking in experience, having served as a senator and as Hang Tuah Jaya Umno division chief.

"With his experience, knowledge and qualifications, I believe he is an asset to BN's efforts to groom a new generation of leaders."

Ayer Molek, a traditional BN stronghold, will see Ridhwan take on Melaka Pakatan Harapan Youth chief Muhammad Hakimin Mokhtar in a straight fight.