Melaka election: Final push to win over voters
MELAKA: More flags bearing the logos of coalitions and parties contesting the state election have been put up in public areas over the weekend as campaigning intensifies in the final stretch.
Melaka is gearing up for its final electoral push as candidates and parties intensify their campaigning in the run-up to the state election. The atmosphere however remains relatively subdued, with few rallies held, aside from Anwar Ibrahim's five-event campaign tour and the Ceramah Santai Orang Melaka, which drew over 3,000 supporters of Barisan Nasional and Pas. The calm may be due to people celebrating Deepavali, attending family gatherings or simply taking a break during the long weekend.
Incidents of mischief and alleged bribery have been reported but the election has remained free of major controversies, largely because of the political maturity shown by parties and their supporters. The final five days before campaigning ends are critical for the 79 candidates, as they try to reinforce their campaign messages and win over the support of 687,697 voters.
Political leaders and observers have different opinions on whether voters have already decided. BN chairman Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi believes that voters in the 28 constituencies up for grabs have made up their minds and that excessive campaigning would not change their decisions. However, some party leaders believe there is still time for candidates to sway voters, as some may only make their final decisions in the last days of campaigning.
The Ilham Centre, a think tank, shares Zahid's view, stating that voters have largely made up their minds about their preferences for the election on November 14. Yet, they note that about 13% of voters, mostly from Generation Z, have yet to decide their vote. This group is likely to be influenced by online sentiments or the fear of missing out, but their influence on the overall outcome is considered negligible.
Election Commission data shows that 41,138 voters, or 5.98% of the electorate, are aged 18 to 20, while 135,687 voters, or 19.37%, are aged 21 to 29. These younger voters could be swayed by the candidates' final pitches. With only a few days left, political marketing efforts are expected to ramp up in the coming days, with coalition and party leaders vying for the attention of Melaka's voters.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
