[Unofficial] Melaka polls: BN leads in four Melaka seats, PN ahead in Bukit Katil

Polling for the 16th Melaka state election concluded at 6pm today across 28 constituencies. According to Malay Mail, voter turnout reached the Election Commission's target of 70 per cent by 5.10pm, with 468,500 voters having cast ballots. The Election Commission's real-time monitoring dashboard recorded a turnout of 69.18 per cent at 5pm, with Serkam registering the highest turnout at 77.21%, The Vibes reports. Malay Mail noted that Serkam also led with a turnout of 79.08 per cent shortly after 5pm.

Unofficial election results provided by Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki show Barisan Nasional (BN) leading in Lendu, Machap Jaya, Asahan, and Sungai Udang. Perikatan Nasional (PN) is ahead in Bukit Katil, according to the New Straits Times. Free Malaysia Today reports that Pakatan Harapan (PH) has taken an early lead in Ayer Keroh with 318 votes.

The election involves 79 candidates and a total of 687,697 registered voters, according to Free Malaysia Today. A simple majority of 15 seats is required to form the next state government. EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun stated that official announcements depend on the counting process and the arrival of ballot boxes at tallying centres, The Vibes reports.

Brief written by urgent.news from New Straits Times, The Vibes, Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.