D-day for Melaka tomorrow, 495,195 voters to choose leaders

As soon as the campaign period ends at 11.59 pm tonight, the focus will shift to the 217 polling district centres in 28 state seats, where the Melaka people will decide the fate of the 112 candidates vying for the seats.

Of the total registered voters in the 15th Melaka State Election, 476,037 ordinary voters will cast their ballots, while a total of 11,557 early voters had cast their votes on Nov 16 and 7,601 people voted by post.

The Election Commission (EC) has outlined strict standard operating procedures (SOP) for the voting process to ensure the health of the people in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic while addressing the demands of democracy.

Among the SOP that must be adhered to is physical distancing, wearing of face masks, using hand sanitiser, screening of body temperature and scanning of MySejahtera mobile application quick response (QR) code before entering polling centres.

Voters who exhibit symptoms such as cough, sore throat or difficulty breathing or whose body temperature is detected to be above 37.5 degrees Celsius, will be immediately isolated and will cast their votes at a special tent.

Party agents or candidates who have finished their duties and voters who have cast their ballots must leave the polling stations immediately, the EC states.

Voters are also advised to check their voting information through the mySPR Semak application or EC's portal at https://pengundi.spr.gov.my/ before going out to vote.

To avoid crowding at the voting centres, voters are advised to come at the recommended time slots namely 8 am to 10 am, 10 am to 12 noon, 12 noon to 2 pm and 2 pm to 4.30 pm.

EC only allows five supporters of the winning candidate (based on unofficial results) and three supporters of other candidates to be at the official tallying centres, while any celebration of the candidate's victory is not allowed.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) forecasts sunny weather in the morning in all districts of Alor Gajah, Melaka Tengah and Jasin while thunderstorms are expected in the three districts in the afternoon.

The state election sees Barisan Nasional (BN), Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) contesting in all 28 seats, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) (five), Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional (IMAN) (one) and Independent (22).

Of the total candidates, 96 are male candidates while the remaining 16 are women with nine candidates aged 21 to 29 years, 21 candidates (30-39), 35 candidates (40-49), 36 candidates (50-59), 11 candidates (60 years and above) and the oldest candidate is 68 years old.

It will see a six-cornered fight in three state seats, five-cornered (five state seats), four-cornered (nine) and three-cornered (11).

Hot seats to watch are Asahan, Lendu, Tanjung Bidara and Bukit Katil.

Former chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron is going up against five contenders in a six-cornered battle while Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali is facing a three-cornered fight in the Lendu state constituency.

Meanwhile, in the Tanjung Bidara state constituency Umno state liaison committee chairman Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh is running against Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin in a three-cornered contest while another former chief minister Adly Zahari is facing a four-cornered battle in Bukit Katil.

The EC has set tomorrow for polling following the dissolution of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly on Oct 4 after four assemblymen withdrew their support for the then Chief Minister.