Credit : Bernama
AYER KEROH, October 31, 2026 – Fourteen women are among the 79 candidates confirmed to contest the 16th Melaka state election, Election Commission (SPR) chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said today, as the commission set up 28 teams to monitor campaigning until the eve of polling, Bernama reported.
The national news agency reported on X that the SPR had confirmed 79 candidates representing political parties, coalitions and independents as eligible to contest the election on November 14. Ramlan said all nomination papers received were accepted and none was rejected after nomination closed at 10 am, The Sun reported.
Who is contesting
Ramlan said 65 of the candidates are men and 14 are women, according to the Bernama report carried by Malay Mail. He was speaking at a press conference at the Ayer Keroh Federal Building.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) is contesting 24 seats, Barisan Nasional (BN) 23, Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) 16 and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) seven, he said. Perikatan Nasional (PN) is contesting five seats, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) one, and three candidates are standing as independents.
“Of the 28 constituencies, there will be 11 straight fights, 11 three-cornered contests and six four-cornered contests,” Ramlan said.
Oldest and youngest
The oldest candidate is PH’s Mohamad Jaafar, 66, who is contesting Telok Mas, while the youngest is also from PH, 24-year-old Muhammad Mukhlisul Mubin Julasapiyah in Kuala Linggi, Ramlan said, as reported by Bernama and Sinar Harian. The names follow the spelling on the SPR candidate list.
By age group, two candidates are aged between 18 and 29, 14 between 30 and 39, 33 between 40 and 49, 22 between 50 and 59, and eight are aged 60 and above, he said.
The field is smaller than in the 2021 Melaka state election, when 112 candidates contested the 28 seats as BN, PH and PN clashed in every constituency, Free Malaysia Today reported.
Campaign rules and enforcement
Ramlan said the campaign period, which began after the returning officers declared the contests, runs until 11.59 pm on November 13. The SPR has set up 28 Election Campaign Enforcement Teams, known as PP-KPR, to monitor the activities of all candidates throughout the campaign.
“The SPR also hopes and reminds all parties to ensure that permitted campaign activities are conducted in a harmonious atmosphere and in compliance with the laws and regulations,” he said.
He reminded candidates that campaign materials must follow local authority by-laws and election regulations, The Sun reported. Materials with words that could incite hostility, promote racial hatred, touch on religious sensitivities or provoke animosity are not allowed and are an offence under the Election Offences Act 1954, he said.
Ramlan also said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had opened a 24-hour operations room at its Melaka state office from October 31 to November 14 to receive complaints of corruption and abuse of power, according to The Sun. The Communications Ministry has set up a media centre at Hotel Mudzaffar, MITC Ayer Keroh, open from 9 am to 7 pm until November 14, with 39 National Information Dissemination Centres (NADI) across the state acting as supporting media centres, he said.
He thanked the returning officers and their teams for a smooth nomination day, as well as the Melaka State Secretary’s office, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Malaysian Department of Insolvency, the Communications Ministry and media personnel.
A total of 687,697 voters are eligible to vote in the election. The SPR has fixed November 10 for early voting and November 14 as polling day.
Credit : Bernama
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