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In Melaka's upcoming 16th State Elections, candidate Farzana Hayani Mohd Nasir, a member of Pakatan Harapan, is leveraging her ability to speak Mandarin to connect with Chinese voters, particularly the elderly population. Farzana, 26, is competing against four other candidates in Kelebang state constituency.

During a campaign visit to Pokok Mangga, Farzana garnered attention from senior citizen Fang Kong Goon, 63. Fang appreciated Farzana's Mandarin fluency, as it facilitated easier communication and rapport building with the Chinese community, especially the elderly. "Being able to speak Mandarin makes it easier for Farzana to introduce herself to the Chinese community, especially the elderly, while building closer ties with them," Fang remarked.

Ku Chin Siew, a 70-year-old temple caretaker at Geok Hu Keng Temple, shared that Farzana, known affectionately as Nana in the community, is no stranger to the area. He noted her frequent visits and interactions with the local Chinese community. Ku added, "I like seeing Malays who can speak Chinese. It makes things easier because I am not very fluent in Malay myself. It is good to see a young Malay candidate who can speak Chinese."

Farzana, who attended Ying Chye Chinese National-type Primary School and Melaka Chinese High School, as well as taking Mandarin as a subject in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), acknowledged that her Mandarin skills have been instrumental in engaging with the Chinese community during her campaign. She stated, "Many Chinese people whom I meet during campaigning, especially at eateries and during walkabouts, are surprised when they hear me speaking Mandarin, and conversations about politics become more relaxed."

Alhamdulillah, Farzana expressed optimism that her Mandarin fluency will be reflected positively in the ballots, hoping for a favorable response from the Chinese community in Kelebang. The Election Commission has set November 14 as the polling day for the Melaka state election, with early voting scheduled for November 10. For the latest updates on the 16th Melaka state election, visit https://election.bernama.com/prn/melaka/2026/.