Melaka polls see a less crowded field than in 2021 state election

MELAKA: A total of 79 candidates from various parties are contesting the 28 seats in the Melaka election, following the completion of the nomination process at all nomination centres across the state today.

This is a drop compared to the 112 candidates contesting in the 2021 state election,

Of the total candidates contesting in this year's Melaka polls, 24 candidates are representing Pakatan Harapan , followed by Barisan Nasional with 23, Bersama with 16 and Bersatu with seven.

Pas together with Parti Wawasan Negara and Gerakan are fielding candidates in five seats, three independents and one candidate from Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra).

Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said no nomination papers were rejected.

"Eleven state constituencies would see straight fight while another 11 would see three-cornered contests. The remaining six constituencies would see four-cornered contests," he told reporters here today.

Of the 79 candidates, 65 are men and 14 are women.

Ramlan said the campaign period began following the announcement of the candidates by the respective returning officers and would end at 11.59pm on Nov 13.

He also said EC has established 28 Election Campaign Enforcement Teams to monitor candidates' activities throughout the campaign period.

Ramlan said candidates who had paid the deposit for election campaign materials were subject to local authority by-laws governing the display and distribution of materials bearing their photographs, party emblems or symbols, as well as photographs of party leaders.

Permitted campaign materials include advertisements, leaflets, brochures, flags, banners, circulars, stickers, posters and temporary billboards.

Such materials must carry the names and addresses of their printers and publishers, except for flags, party symbol posters and photographs of party leaders or candidates.

Campaign materials containing seditious, racist or hateful words, or those touching on religious sensitivities in a way that could incite hostility, are prohibited and constitute an offence under the Election Offences Act 1954.

The EC also called on all parties to ensure that their campaign activities were conducted harmoniously and in compliance with the laws and regulations.

Ramlan said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had also set up an operations room that would operate round the clock from Oct 31 to Nov 14.