Generations apart, candidates prepare to contest for Melaka seats
MELAKA: There is a gap of more than 40 years between the youngest and oldest candidates named so far for the Melaka polls, with nomination day taking place today.
Perikatan Nasional’s Datuk Seri Michael Gan, 66, and Amanah’s Muhammad Mukhlisul Mubin Julaisapiyah, 25, are among the candidates from different generations preparing to file their nomination papers.
Gan, who is contesting Ayer Keroh, is the oldest among those whose ages have been disclosed, while Muhammad Mukhlisul, a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia law graduate contesting Kuala Linggi, is among the youngest.
A check by The Star on the latest published candidate line-ups shows that 75 candidates have been named by Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional, Bersatu and Parti Bersama Malaysia for the 28-seat assembly.
Pakatan has named 24 candidates, Barisan 22, Bersama 16, Bersatu eight and Perikatan five. The final field will be known after nominations close.
The line-ups bring together incumbents defending their records, former assemblymen seeking a comeback and newcomers hoping to secure a seat in the state assembly.
Women account for 13, or about 17.3%, of the candidates named by the five groups so far.
Pakatan has six women candidates, Barisan four, Bersama two and Bersatu one. None of Perikatan’s five announced candidates is a woman.
Barisan’s women candidates are Datuk Tuminah Kadi in Pantai Kundor, Siti Aisyah Mahmood in Pengkalan Batu, Datuk Khaidhirah Abu Zahar in Rim and MCA’s Jasmine Lok Huey Yee in Bandar Hilir.
Pakatan’s women candidates include PKR’s Datuk Ginie Lim Siew Lin in Machap Jaya, Farzana Hayani Mohd Nasir in Klebang and Esma Eazreen Husin in Rim. DAP is fielding Leng Chau Yen in Bandar Hilir, while Amanah has named Rahayu Hamzah in Merlimau and Junainah Sahat in Taboh Naning.
Junainah, who heads the Masjid Tanah Amanah women’s wing, was among three additional Pakatan candidates announced after the coalition unveiled its initial 21 names on Oct 24. The other additions were Amanah’s Aminuddin Abdul Jalil in Sungai Rambai and PKR’s Mej (Rtd) Jaimi Dimon in Ayer Limau.
Pakatan’s allocation comprises 10 candidates from PKR and seven each from DAP and Amanah.
Bersatu’s sole woman candidate is medical specialist Datin Seri Dr Asmah Samat, who will contest Pantai Kundor. Bersama has named Nur Farhana Hamzah in Kuala Linggi and Dr Aliza Che Amran in Bukit Katil.
For Barisan, caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh will defend Tanjung Bidara, while Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abdul Halem will defend Merlimau and Duyong, respectively.
Datuk Rais Yasin, who won Paya Rumput in 2021, has moved to Sungai Udang.
Among Barisan incumbents not renominated are former chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali in Lendu, Datuk Zaidi Attan in Serkam and Datuk Siti Faizah Abd Azis in Sungai Rambai.
Pakatan is retaining former chief minister Datuk Seri Adly Zahari in Bukit Katil, while Lim is seeking a return to Machap Jaya, which she represented after the 2018 general election. Farzana, who contested Sungai Rambai in 2021, is standing in Klebang this time, while Datuk Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat has moved from Telok Mas to Durian Tunggal.
Besides Gan, the list of candidates announced by Perikatan, include Rafie Ahmad, 58, in Paya Rumput; Muhammad Ridzuan Mohd Sarif, 42, in Bukit Katil; Albert Kok, 58, in Kesidang; and incumbent Dr Mohd Yadzil Yaakub, 48, in Bemban.
The election will be Melaka’s first state poll since the implementation of the lower voting age and automatic voter registration, allowing 18-year-olds to vote in a state election for the first time. The Election Commission has fixed Nov 10 for early voting and Nov 14 for polling.
