Melaka election: 79 candidates confirmed for 28 seats as 14-day campaign begins
Seventy-nine candidates will contest the 28 seats in Melaka’s 16th state election, Malaysia’s Election Commission confirmed on Saturday, 31 October, after nominations closed at 10am. Every nomination paper submitted was accepted, and none was rejected. Polling day is Saturday, 14 November, with early voting on Tuesday, 10 November.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) is fielding the most candidates, with 24, followed by Barisan Nasional (BN) with 23, Parti Bersama Malaysia with 16 and Bersatu with seven. Perikatan Nasional (PN) is contesting five seats, Putra one, and three candidates are standing as independents. Election Commission chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun announced the figures at a press conference at the Ayer Keroh Federal Building.
The contests break down into 11 straight fights, 11 three-cornered contests and six four-cornered contests, in Gadek, Kelebang, Pengkalan Batu, Ayer Keroh, Bukit Katil and Bemban. Of the 79 candidates, 65 are men and 14 are women. The oldest candidate is PH’s Mohamad Jaafar, 66, contesting Telok Mas, and the youngest is PH’s Muhammad Mukhlisul Mubin Julaisapiyah, 24, in Kuala Linggi. The largest age group is 40 to 49, with 33 candidates.
The field is smaller than in the 2021 Melaka state election, when 112 candidates contested the same 28 seats. A total of 687,697 voters are eligible to cast their ballots this time.
Why it matters
The result will decide who forms the next Melaka state government, and the line-up shows how Malaysia’s main blocs are arranging themselves. Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional have teamed up to contest all 28 seats between them, while Pakatan Harapan is contesting the most seats of any single coalition.
The Election Commission has set up 28 election campaign enforcement teams, one for each constituency, to monitor campaigning. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has also opened a 24-hour operations centre in Melaka, running from 31 October to 14 November, to receive complaints about corruption and abuse of power during the election.
What happens next
The 14-day campaign period runs until 11.59pm on Friday, 13 November. Early voting takes place on Tuesday, 10 November, and polling day follows on Saturday, 14 November, when Melaka’s 687,697 eligible voters will choose the state’s next assembly.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://mediaselangor.com/en/2026/10/404189 (Media Selangor / Bernama, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.klsescreener.com/v2/news/view/1819355/melaka-polls-79-candidates-to-contest-28-seats-11-constituencies-to-see-straight-fights (KLSE Screener / The Edge Malaysia, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2026/10/31/ec-total-79-candidates-to-contest-in-melaka-ph-tops-list/ (Business Today Malaysia, 31 October 2026)
- https://asianewshub.com/en/melaka-election-79-candidates-contest/ (Asia News Hub, 31 October 2026)
