{
  "id": 17344199,
  "title": "Less crowded field in Melaka polls with 79 candidates contesting 28 seats",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/less-crowded-field-in-melaka-polls-with-79-candidates-contesting-28-17344199",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T04:33:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/31/less-crowded-field-in-melaka-polls-with-79-candidates-contesting-28-seats"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 16th Melaka state election will see a less competitive field with 79 candidates vying for 28 seats, according to the Election Commission (EC). This contrasts with the 2021 polls where 112 candidates contested the same number of seats. The EC chairman, Ramlan Harun, revealed that the candidates are split between Barisan Nasional (23), Pakatan Harapan (24), Bersatu (7), Bersama (16), Perikatan Nasional (5), and Putra (1). Three independent candidates are also participating in the election. Among the contestants, 65 are men and 14 are women. The voting process will take place on November 14, with early voting held on November 10. The election will witness 11 single-seat races, 11 three-way contests, and six four-way battles. The oldest candidate is 66-year-old Mohamad Jaafar from Pakatan Harapan in Telok Mas, while the youngest is 24-year-old Mukhlisul Mubin Julasapiyah from Pakatan Harapan in Kuala Linggi.",
  "summary": "The state election will see 11 straight fights, 11 three-cornered contests, and six four-cornered battles.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Melaka polls: All 28 candidate nomination centres close at 10am",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/melaka-polls-all-28-candidate-nomination-centres-close-at-10am",
        "published": "2026-10-31T02:30:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : 79 Candidates To Contest 28 Seats In 16th Melaka State Election - EC Chairman",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/general-79-candidates-to-contest-28-seats-in-16th-melaka-state",
        "published": "2026-10-31T03:35:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "EC: 79 candidates, including 14 women, to contest 28 Melaka seats, with 11 straight fights and six four-cornered contests",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/ec-79-candidates-including-14-women-to-contest-28-melaka-seats-with",
        "published": "2026-10-31T05:13:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}