Slowest seat in Melaka? A look at the Bandar Hilir vote

Melaka’s Bandar Hilir recorded the lowest voter turnout among the state’s 28 constituencies, with just under 56 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots. The Election Commission’s live dashboard indicated that 67.78 percent of all voters across Malaysia participated, amounting to 433,944 out of 669,211 eligible voters. Serkam topped the turnout chart at 74.09 percent, outpacing Bandar Hilir by a significant 20.72 percentage points.

Bandar Hilir has consistently been in the bottom spot since polling stations opened at 8 am. The constituency comprises 23,042 registered voters, with women constituting 52 percent and men accounting for the remaining 48 percent. Chinese voters make up approximately 73 percent of the electorate, followed by Malays at 12.9 percent, Indians at 6.4 percent, and others at 6.8 percent.

The election is a fierce three-way race between incumbent Leng Chau Yen from Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Jasmine Lok Huey Yee, and Dr Mohd Nor Rashidi Ab Jalil from Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama). Leng won the seat in 2021 with a margin of 7,778 votes in a four-way contest. That year’s turnout was 57.55 percent, which has yet to be matched.

Lok, a Melaka Historic City Council councillor and member of the MCA, is vying for the seat, receiving it late in the day from BN. The two women had a debate during the campaign period when Leng accepted an invitation from Lok. Voting is ongoing until 6 pm, so a late surge could still alter the figures. The EC aims to achieve a 70 percent turnout nationwide.