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Melaka election campaign opens as PH and Bersatu avoid clashes in four seats

Seventy-nine candidates are contesting 28 seats in the Malaysian state, with early voting on November 10 and polling on November 14.

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The red colonial-era buildings at the Stadhuys in Melaka, pictured in September 2014.
The red colonial-era buildings at the Stadhuys in Melaka, pictured in September 2014. Photo: Khwon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Campaigning for the Melaka state election in Malaysia began on Saturday after nomination day, with 79 candidates contesting 28 seats, The Straits Times and CNA reported. Election Commission chairman Ramlan Harun said all nomination papers were accepted and no candidate was disqualified, according to The Straits Times.

There will be 11 straight fights, 11 three-cornered contests and six four-cornered contests. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Harapan (PH) is fielding 24 candidates and Barisan Nasional (BN) 23. CNA reported that BN is contesting in partnership with Perikatan Nasional (PN), which has five candidates. Parti Bersama Malaysia has 16, Bersatu seven and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia one, alongside three independents. The Straits Times said several seats pit BN and PH, the two ruling coalitions, directly against each other.

CNA reported that PH has not fielded candidates in Lendu, Sungai Udang, Pantai Kundor and Bemban, four seats contested by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin's Bersatu. Muhyiddin signed a confidence and supply agreement with Anwar's government on Thursday but said it did not signal an electoral pact. On Friday, local media reported that PH would go solo after talks on a PH Plus arrangement fell through, CNA said.

James Chin, an Asian studies professor at the University of Tasmania, told CNA "it is quite obvious that there is an informal understanding between Bersatu and PH". He said the UMNO and PAS partnership was on track to win at least 24 seats, and that any losses would most likely be to the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in Chinese areas. Azmi Hassan of the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research described "some sort of pseudo cooperation". DAP, a PH component party, has opposed working with Bersatu over its role in the 2020 "Sheraton Move".

BN won 21 of the 28 seats in 2021, with PH taking five and PN two. CNA said BN is widely expected to retain control after successful campaigns alongside PN in Johor and Negeri Sembilan. A dispute over seat allocation with BN component the Malaysian Chinese Association appeared resolved after it was given Bandar Hilir and Kota Laksamana. PH withdrew support for the state government in July over a constitutional amendment allowing nominated assemblymen.

The Straits Times named several seats to watch. In Tanjung Bidara, outgoing Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh faces PH's Mohd Yunazri Mustamiri after holding the seat in 2021 by 364 votes. UMNO Youth chief Akmal Saleh defends Merlimau against PH's Ayu Hamzah, and former chief minister Adly Zahari of Amanah seeks a third term in a four-cornered fight in Bukit Katil.

Bersama, led by former minister Rafizi Ramli, is back in the contest after sitting out Negeri Sembilan. All its candidates lost their deposits in Johor, The Straits Times reported.

Fourteen of the candidates are women. The youngest is 24 and the oldest 66. The Straits Times put the number of eligible voters at 687,697, while CNA said close to 690,000. Early voting is on November 10, ahead of polling day on November 14.

Sources: The Straits Times, Who will triumph in Melaka as 79 candidates battle for 28 state seats?; CNA, Melaka state election: Anwar's PH, Muhyiddin's Bersatu avoid clashes in 4 seats as candidates confirmed.

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