Melaka election: Bemban race heats up as more names emerge

MELAKA: The Bemban state seat is expected to see a multi-cornered contest in the upcoming Melaka election, with Melaka Bersatu Youth chief Muhammad Jefri Safri among the names linked to a possible candidacy.

So far, Bersama has announced Dr Muhammad Solehin Saleh, 40, as its candidate for the seat. He is the elder brother of Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh. The announcement was made in August.

Another name linked to the contest is DAP Melaka state legal bureau chief and Bemban state constituency DAP service team chief Mathan Anandaram, 37.

Bemban State Development and Coordination Committee (Japerun) coordinator Mohd Raziff Yakop, better known as Mohd Raziff Adip, has also been linked to a possible candidacy for BN.

The incumbent, Dr Mohd Yadzil Yaakub, 52, is also tipped to defend the seat he won under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) ticket in the 2021 Melaka election. He is now with Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan).

Meanwhile, Muhammad Jefri, 30, who is also Jasin Bersatu division chief, has attracted attention through his active involvement in community and welfare programmes around Bemban.

Among the activities associated with the former PN candidate for the Sungai Rambai state seat in the previous election are rice donations to couples preparing for marriage, aid for families in need and home repair assistance for residents.

Muhammad, popularly known as Dak Jep, is also fluent in Mandarin, which he uses to engage with the area's multi-ethnic communities, although the majority of Bemban's residents are Malay.

However, neither Muhammad nor the Bersatu leadership has officially confirmed whether he will be fielded in Bemban.

In the 2021 Melaka election, Yadzil won the seat with a majority of 328 votes after securing 4,211 votes in a five-cornered contest.

He defeated BN candidate Koh Chin Han, who received 3,883 votes, and PH candidate Datuk Tey Kok Kiew, who garnered 3,095 votes.

Two independent candidates also contested the seat. Ng Choon Koon received 850 votes, while Azmi Kamis secured 130.

Bemban had 18,573 registered voters in the 2021 election, with a voter turnout of 66.8 per cent.

The seat was previously won by MCA under the BN banner in the 13th General Election in 2013. DAP captured it through Datuk Dr Wong Fort Pin in the 14th General Election in 2018.

The seat then changed hands to Bersatu under the PN ticket in the 2021 Melaka election.