Melaka Election: Anwar in Ayer Molek Backs Harapan’s Hakimin Mokhtar and Calls for Leaders Who Reject Corruption

AYER MOLEK, November 12: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim campaigned in Ayer Molek on Thursday night, thanked residents for their welcome to Pakatan Harapan’s candidates and said Melaka wanted leaders who dared to reject corruption, two days before polling in the 16th Melaka state election.

In a post shared on X at 11.08pm on Thursday, Anwar wrote in Malay: “Last night I went to Ayer Molek to continue the HARAPAN campaign in Melaka. Thank you to the local residents for the warm welcome for the HARAPAN candidate for the Ayer Molek state seat, brother Hakimin Mokhtar, and the HARAPAN candidate for the Serkam state seat, brother Faiq Azman.” The post came with four photographs.

The photographs show Anwar, in a white shirt, standing under a tent with four other men in front of a Harapan and Melaka Rumah Kita backdrop, his right fist raised. In another picture he speaks among residents seated on red plastic chairs as cameras record the gathering. A wider shot shows a crowded outdoor session beneath a banner marked Sembang Santai. A fourth photograph shows him seated and speaking with a man in a red Harapan cap.

He went on to invite those present to reflect on an admonition by the Javanese poet Ronggowarsito about a “zaman edan”, or mad age. “How mad this age is when honest people are insulted and abused, while those who are corrupt are praised and honoured,” he wrote. “I believe the people of Melaka want leaders who dare to reject corruption and safeguard the people’s trust.” With humility, he asked voters to give the mandate to Harapan’s candidates to bear that trust.

A scheduled stop on the campaign trail

Anwar’s post does not name the venue. Earlier on Thursday, Malay Mail, citing Bernama, said he proceeded to a Ngopi Santai programme in Ayer Molek after stops in Taman Krubong Jaya and Kampung Machap Baru. Business Today, reporting the same evening schedule, listed a casual coffee session at Warung Cikgu Jalal dan Cik Ida in Ayer Molek at 8.30pm. The photographs of a Sembang Santai gathering under a tent are consistent with an informal evening session, but LNA has not independently confirmed the start time or the precise venue. LNA has reported the earlier walkabouts, and a later Melaka Rumah Kita programme in Bukit Baru, separately.

The Ayer Molek and Serkam contests

The Star reported that Hakimin, 35, is Melaka PKR Youth chief and a first-time candidate for Ayer Molek, in a straight fight against Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali, the son of Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam. The seat has 24,614 registered voters and a predominantly Malay electorate. News reports name him as Muhammad Hakimin Mokhtar; Anwar’s post used the shorter form, Hakimin Mokhtar.

Faiq, whom news reports name as Muhammad Faiq Azman, is Harapan’s candidate for the Serkam state seat, not Ayer Molek. Kosmo, citing Bernama, said the 36-year-old, also known as Along Faiq, is a first-time candidate from Kampung Pulai and is in a three-cornered contest against Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Azman Abdullah and Parti Bersama Malaysia’s Muhammad Saffie Md Yasan. Anwar’s post places him at the Ayer Molek gathering; it does not say Anwar campaigned in Serkam.

Final days before polling

Malay Mail, citing Bernama, said the Election Commission (SPR) has set Saturday, November 14, as polling day, with 687,697 registered voters eligible to cast ballots in all 28 state seats. The same report said Pakatan Harapan is contesting 24 of the 28 seats, followed by Barisan Nasional with 23 candidates, Parti Bersama Malaysia with 16, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia with seven, Perikatan Nasional with five and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia with one. Three independent candidates are also standing. Business Today said campaigning was set to end at 11.59pm on Friday.

Anwar chairs Pakatan Harapan and is also president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). His Ayer Molek post is a campaign message from the coalition’s chairman. It does not announce any policy. Life News Agency is reporting from Anwar’s own X post, supplemented by published reports from Malay Mail, Business Today, The Star, Bernama and Kosmo.

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