Adly Zahari: Melaka election not a waste of time, public funds as ‘democratic power belongs to the people’

Melaka, Nov 1 — The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition has rejected allegations that the 16th Melaka State Election is a futile exercise, both in terms of time and public resources. Instead, PH views the election as a crucial democratic exercise that enables the people to decide the mandate for the state government. Adly Zahari, PH's chairman and candidate for Bukit Katil, emphasized that PH is not solely reliant on party members but is seeking support from all Melakans to secure a mandate to govern the state.

Adly, who is also a vice-president of Amanah, stated that while other parties might win by relying on their own supporters, PH’s victory depends on the trust and backing of the broader electorate. The PH candidate clarified that winning power is not an inherent right of any party; rather, voters do not owe their mandate to anyone. PH's stance reaffirmed that "democratic power belongs to the people."

During a daily press conference at PH's main operations room in Melaka, Adly was accompanied by Melaka DAP chairman Khoo Poay Tiong. In the meantime, Adly, who also serves as Deputy Defence Minister, revealed that initial feedback from PH's 24 candidates during their campaigns indicated that residents are still worried about water bills, difficulties in homeownership, access to welfare assistance, and recurrent flooding.

The PH leader also highlighted that small-scale traders are grappling with issues such as capital and rental costs. Adly called on Barisan Nasional (BN), which secured 21 out of 28 seats in the previous state election, to accept responsibility for resolving these concerns and provide explanations on the actions taken, rather than acting as if it had only recently assumed control of the state administration.

"The people have every right to ask for answers. If fundamental issues remain unresolved and continue to spark public dissatisfaction, how can we justify praising the current administration? Signs can be changed, and slogans refreshed, but the quality of service must deliver the best possible outcomes for the people," Adly argued.

The Election Commission has designated November 14 as polling day for the 16th Melaka State Election, with early voting taking place on November 10. For continued updates on the election, readers can visit https://election.bernama.com/prn/melaka/2026/.