Credit : Bernama
MELAKA, October 31, 2026 – The two additional seats MCA is contesting in the 16th Melaka state election, Kota Laksamana and Bandar Hilir, are a big challenge for the party in winning the mandate of voters, especially the Chinese community, its president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said, Bernama reported.
Wee said the two seats would be a test of public support for MCA, as both have Chinese-majority electorates and have been held by DAP for several terms, according to Bernama.
“We realise it is not easy to capture two DAP strongholds, but we will work hard to win the people’s mandate in those areas. We will make the best use of this opportunity by mobilising our energy and machinery to win voters’ support,” he said.
The Ayer Hitam MP was speaking after accompanying Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Kelebang, Datuk Lim Ban Hong, to the nomination centre at the Kelebang Japerun Complex hall.
On BN’s decision to give the two extra seats to MCA, Wee said the party appreciated the trust of the BN leadership, as well as the views of Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders who had described MCA as suitable to contest and able to win there.
He said MCA had always paid attention to the people of Melaka, including all the state seats under the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency, even though the area is a DAP stronghold.
According to the Election Commission (SPR) candidate list, Kota Laksamana is a three-cornered fight between PH’s Low Chee Leong, BN’s Melvin Chua and Bersama’s Ethan Lim Zhi Hao, while Bandar Hilir sees BN’s Jasmine Lok, PH’s Leng Chau Yen and Bersama’s Ir Dr Rashidi Jalil.
Four-cornered fight in Kelebang
Wee said he was confident Lim, the incumbent, could defend Kelebang on the strength of his service record and good ties with the local community, despite facing a tough four-cornered contest.
Lim, who is Melaka MCA chairman, said being the incumbent was no reason to be complacent. “As usual, the state election is a platform for me to keep serving and to do my best for the people of Kelebang, and to make sure the people once again give me and BN the mandate to serve,” he said.
His challengers include PH’s Farzana Hayani Mohd Nasir, 26, who is contesting a state election for the second time after losing in Sungai Rambai at the age of 21, Bernama reported. The Tangga Batu AMK (PKR Youth) chief said the earlier experience had matured her, and that this time her campaign schedule and machinery were better organised.
Farzana, the only woman and the youngest candidate in the seat, said she would focus on women’s issues during the 14-day campaign, as well as fishermen and job opportunities for young people.
The other candidates in Kelebang are Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad of Bersatu and Young Jie Yu of Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama), according to Bernama and the SPR list.
Key dates
The SPR has fixed November 10 for early voting and November 14 as polling day for the Melaka state election, in which 79 candidates are contesting 28 seats.
Credit : Bernama
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