Parties gear up for tech-based election campaign in Malacca

Social media will be the main platform used during campaigning for many of the parties contesting in the Malacca election next month, political leaders in the state said.

This followed the move by the Health Ministry to ban election-related activities, gatherings or social gatherings, including election machinery launching ceremonies with effect from Oct 25 until Nov 27.

Taking heed from the compounds issued on two political parties yesterday for violating the ban and National Recovery Plan standard operating procedures (SOP), several local political leaders agreed that strategies to woo voters must now change to suit new norms.

Bersatu's Masjid Tanah lawmaker Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the measures taken by the government have forced the party to switch from traditional to technology-based campaigning.

“There are pros and cons to the ban… while it is good that there will be less physical contact, which means logistics expenditure can be reduced, we still have to accept the fact that it is going to be a huge challenge in trying to reach out to voters,” she told Bernama today.

Malacca BN Wanita chief Latipah Omar said the Health Ministry's ban would not stop Umno and BN from having their own strategies to canvass for votes.

However, she still felt that the restrictions were unreasonable given the fact that Malacca has now entered Phase 4 of the NRP and more than 90 percent of the state's adult population have been vaccinated.

Malacca DAP election director Khoo Poay Tiong

Malacca DAP election director Khoo Poay Tiong said while the party accepted the ministry's decision and was ready to make its presence felt on social media during the campaign period, it was still concerned about Internet connectivity issues in rural areas.

“Like it or not, we will have to rely on our existing social media platforms… campaigning in the new normal will be a totally different experience,” he added.

The Election Commission has set Nov 8 as the nomination day for the state election and Nov 20 for polling.

The State Legislative Assembly has 28 seats and the electoral roll contains 495,196 voters.

- Bernama