No five- or six-cornered fights in 28 seats: Melaka’s 2026 ballot looks very different from 2021

Melaka's upcoming state election features a reduced number of candidates compared to the 2021 election. A total of 79 candidates from various parties are competing for 28 seats, down from 112 contenders in the previous election. The major parties are Pakatan Harapan with 24 candidates, Barisan Nasional with 23, Bersama with 16, and Bersatu with seven. The remaining seats are contested by Pas, Parti Wawasan Negara, Gerakan, three independents, and one candidate from Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra).

The Election Commission (EC) chairman, Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun, revealed that no nomination papers were rejected. In terms of constituency fights, eleven will be straight contests, 11 three-cornered, and six four-cornered. The oldest candidate at 66 is Captain (Rtd) Mohamad Jaafar from Pakatan Harapan, contesting the Telok Mas seat.

The youngest contender is 24-year-old Muhammad Mukhlisul Mubin Julasapiyah from Pakatan Harapan, who is running in Kuala Linggi. Mohamad is in a three-way contest against incumbent Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun of Barisan Nasional and Bersama's Muhammad Hazwan Mustafa.

The campaign period commences on the announcement of candidates by returning officers and will conclude at 11.59pm on November 13. The EC has deployed 28 Election Campaign Enforcement Teams to supervise candidates' activities throughout the campaign. Candidates who have paid the deposit for campaign materials must adhere to local authority by-laws regarding the display and distribution of materials containing their photographs, party emblems, or symbols.

Prohibited campaign materials include seditious, racist, or hateful content, as well as anything that could incite hostility or touch religious sensitivities under the Election Offences Act 1954.

The EC also urged all parties to ensure their campaign activities remain harmonious and in compliance with laws and regulations. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) established an operations room that will operate round the clock from October 31 to November 14.