Melaka state polls on Nov 20, says EC

PETALING JAYA: The Melaka state elections will take place on Nov 20 with early voting set for Nov 16.

Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh announced that nominations will be on Nov 8.

He said the EC had hired a total of 28 election officers to monitor campaign activities.

“They will be assisted by 80 assistant managers. EC has also formed 28 teams comprising police personnel, representatives of the local authorities and representatives of the candidates to monitor all election campaign activities throughout the period,” he told a press conference after chairing a meeting to discuss the Melaka state election.

He noted that 495,196 voters were eligible to vote in the election.

The EC hopes for a voter turnout of 70%. “We ask all parties, including the media and political parties, to encourage people to come out to vote.”

On Oct 5, Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri Mohd Ali Rustam agreed to dissolve the state assembly following the retraction of support for the state government and chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali by four state assemblymen, rendering his government without a majority.

Under Article 19 of the state constitution, an election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution.

Prior to the dissolution, former Melaka chief minister and Sungai Udang assemblyman Idris Haron, former DAP man Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu), Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas) and Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor) had all declared that they were pulling their support for the state government and Sulaiman.

Idris and Nor Azman have since been sacked from Umno, while Noor Effandi received his walking papers from Bersatu for his action.

The Melaka state assembly has 28 seats. The previous state government was represented by 17 assemblymen while the opposition had 11 seats. –Free Malaysia Today