Credit : Bernama
ALOR GAJAH, October 31, 2026 – The Machap Jaya seat will see a three-cornered contest in the 16th Melaka state election, with Barisan Nasional (BN) incumbent Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem facing Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Datuk Ginie Lim Siew Lin and Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) candidate Prasanth Kumar Brakasam, Bernama reported.
The national news agency reported on X that the returning officer had confirmed the three-way fight for the N08 Machap Jaya seat after nomination closed at 10 am today. The three names also appear on the Election Commission’s (SPR) official candidate dashboard.
Returning officer Hamka Dollah said all three nomination papers were accepted and none was rejected, the New Straits Times reported. He said the PH candidate handed in her papers first at 9.05 am, followed by the Bersama candidate at 9.13 am and the BN candidate at 9.19 am, speaking at a short press conference at Kompleks Japerun Machap Jaya.
A former assemblywoman returns
Lim held Machap Jaya from 2018 to 2021. In the 2018 election she won the seat with 5,550 votes and a majority of 1,336 in a three-cornered fight against Koh Nai Kwong of BN-MCA and Wan Zahidi Wan Ismail of PAS, Astro Awani reported. She did not contest in 2021.
In the 2021 Melaka state election, Ngwe won the seat for BN with 3,732 votes, beating PH candidate Law Bing Haw by 938 votes in a five-cornered contest, Astro Awani said. The NST said Machap Jaya has 16,030 registered voters.
Prasanth, Bersama’s candidate, is a former special officer to the Chief Minister, Harian Metro reported.
Leaders out at the nomination centre
Lim arrived at Kompleks Japerun Machap Jaya in Bukit Bulat at about 8.20 am with her supporters, accompanied by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is PH secretary-general and is carrying out the duties of PKR deputy president, Astro Awani reported. Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek, who heads PKR’s women’s wing, and PKR central leadership council member Dr Maszlee Malik were also with her.
Ngwe was accompanied by MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, the broadcaster said. Ngwe arrived as early as 7.45 am and had breakfast with supporters at a nearby stall, while Prasanth arrived at about 8 am with his own supporters.
Harian Metro said PH supporters in red chanted “Reformasi!” and “Melaka rumah kita!” (Melaka is our home) as they walked their candidate in, while Bersama supporters in yellow chanted “Ayuh Bersama! Machap Jaya Prasanth!” The paper said police were posted around the centre to manage traffic and keep the area under control.
Key dates
The SPR has fixed November 10 for early voting and November 14 as polling day for the 28-seat Melaka State Legislative Assembly, with 687,697 voters eligible to cast their ballots across the state.
Credit : Bernama
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