{
  "id": 17536168,
  "title": "Adly Zahari: Melaka election not a waste of time, public funds as ‘democratic power belongs to the people’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/adly-zahari-melaka-election-not-a-waste-of-time-public-funds-as",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T05:06:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/11/01/adly-zahari-melaka-election-not-a-waste-of-time-public-funds-as-democratic-power-belongs-to-the-people/241554"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Melaka, November 1 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) has dismissed assertions that the 16th Melaka State Election is merely a waste of time and public resources, instead characterizing it as a vital democratic procedure that enables the populace to decide the mandate for the state administration. Melaka PH chief Adly Zahari emphasized that the coalition seeks the backing of all Melakans, rather than solely relying on its own party adherents, to attain a mandate to govern the state. Adly, who serves as PH's candidate for the Bukit Katil state constituency and a vice-president of Amanah, stated that whereas other political parties might triumph by relying on their own supporters, PH considered its victory contingent on the trust and endorsement of the broader electorate. \"I do not deny that Barisan Nasional could prevail with the support of its own members. However, we in Pakatan Harapan rely on the people of Melaka for their support,\" he remarked. He delivered these comments during a daily press conference at PH's main operations center in Melaka, which also attended by Melaka DAP chief Khoo Poay Tiong. Simultaneously, Adly, who also holds the position of Deputy Defence Minister, mentioned that preliminary reactions obtained by PH's 24 candidates during their campaigning activities revealed that locals remained apprehensive about water bills, difficulties in homeownership, access to welfare assistance, and recurrent flooding. He also pointed out that small-scale merchants were grappling with challenges concerning capital and rental expenses. Adly urged Barisan Nasional (BN), which secured 21 of the 28 seats in the previous state poll, to accept responsibility for tackling these issues and clarify the steps undertaken, rather than acting as though it had only recently assumed control of the state administration. \"The people have every right to query. If even basic matters remain unaddressed and persist as sources of public dissatisfaction, on what grounds should the incumbent administration be commended? Billboards can be altered and slogans revamped, but the quality of service must deliver the best possible outcomes for the people,\" he asserted. The Election Commission has designated November 14 as the polling day for the 16th Melaka State Election, with early voting to occur on November 10. For the most recent election updates, visit https://election.bernama.com/prn/melaka/2026/.",
  "summary": "MELAKA, Nov 1 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) has dismissed claims that the 16th Melaka State Election is a waste of time a...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Pakatan Harapan is framing the upcoming state election as a critical opportunity for the broader electorate to hold the incumbent administration accountable for unresolved local grievances and service quality.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "Politics : Melaka Election Not A Waste Of Time, Public Funds - AdlyÂ",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/politics-melaka-election-not-a-waste-of-time-public-funds-adlya",
        "published": "2026-11-01T03:16:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Adly Zahari named PH’s choice for Melaka chief minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/adly-zahari-named-phs-choice-for-melaka-chief-minister",
        "published": "2026-11-01T06:25:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}