Livelihoods and heritage preservation on voters’ minds as Melaka heads to the polls
CNA speaks to those from Melaka’s diverse heritage communities ahead of the Nov 14 state election, finding a shared desire for greater recognition, economic security and cultural preservation.
As Melaka prepares for its state election on November 14, residents from the region's diverse heritage communities have expressed a shared desire for greater recognition, economic security and cultural preservation. In the historic city centre, trishaw rider Afrin Mohd Diron laments rising living costs, which have eroded the value of his RM25 fare for 15-minute rides.
Despite increased tourism, Afrin's earnings have fallen to around RM1,000 to RM1,700 monthly. He advocates for reviewing traffic arrangements and continued tourism promotion. Baba-Nyonya community leader Ronald Gan, president of Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Malaysia, emphasizes the need to preserve and promote cultural traditions, but laments limited funding for community activities.
With no appointed Baba-Nyonya representatives in Melaka's state legislative assembly as of July 2023, Gan hopes the upcoming election will address this representation gap.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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