Credit : Bernama
MELAKA, October 31, 2026 – All candidates, campaign workers and supporters of the parties contesting the 16th Melaka state election have been urged to campaign in a fair, mature and dignified way throughout the 14-day campaign, Bernama reported.
The call came from UMNO information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who in a statement on Saturday also reminded everyone to follow the election laws and rules set by the Election Commission (SPR), to respect differing views and to steer clear of provocations touching on religion, race and royalty, the so-called 3R issues, according to Bernama.
“Elections should provide an opportunity for candidates to present and debate their ideas, policies and public service commitments, not create hostility or deepen divisions among the people,” she said.
BN position on campaigning
Azalina said Barisan Nasional (BN) held that election campaigns should centre on candidates’ credentials, service records, manifestos and policy proposals, so that voters can judge their ability, experience and vision for the future of Melaka.
She said BN would not resort to smear campaigns or so-called black PR, as the coalition wanted to win a mandate on its own strengths rather than by running others down. The people of Melaka, she said, had the right to choose based on facts, not slander or hatred.
Check facts before sharing
Azalina, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), urged the public to be more careful online, to verify sources, check facts and think before sharing information.
She asked the public to report content suspected of carrying false news, defamation, impersonation or 3R violations through the official channels of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Election offences, she said, should be reported to the SPR, the police or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“For content taken down by digital platforms, users can make use of the appeals channels provided by the respective platforms. They should also keep all relevant evidence, including screenshots, links and timestamps, to ensure that any complaints can be properly reviewed,” she said.
Young voters
Turning to her own party, Azalina said UMNO’s information machinery at every level should put more weight on its digital campaign, since social media has become one of the main places where voters get information and form their views.
She said the fact that 43.6 per cent of Melaka’s voters are aged between 21 and 40 showed UMNO needed a more dynamic, creative and youth-oriented approach. “Make sure the digital space is filled with accurate information, engaging content and explanations that are factual and conveyed responsibly,” she said.
She also called on voters to weigh each candidate and their proposals rationally and maturely, based on facts, and to carry out their duty on polling day.
A total of 79 candidates are contesting the 28 seats in the state assembly, according to the SPR’s candidate list. The SPR has fixed November 14 as polling day, with early voting on November 10.
Credit : Bernama
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