LIVE | Nomination day is finally upon Malacca after which campaigning for the state election will officially begin.
Campaigning will go on for 12 days before Malaccans hit the polls on Nov 20.
The state election was triggered by a group of rebel Umno and Bersatu leaders who had tried to bring down their own government amid an internal tussle.
However, Umno's incumbent chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali blocked their attempt to form a new government with the opposition by seeking a dissolution of the state assembly on Oct 4, paving the way for fresh polls.
Who are the key personalities contesting in the election? Where are the key battles? Will there be any last-minute surprises?
Malaysiakini brings you live reports from key nomination centres.
PKR man unfazed by BN, PN giants
12.00pm: Tanjung Bidara - Pakatan Harapan candidate Zainal Hassan from PKR is not fazed about contesting in BN's strongest seat and facing two big names from BN and Perikatan Nasional.
"We remain calm and focus on our campaign to win the people over for Harapan.
"The issue of big names is not an obstacle as Harapan has served the people of Tanjung Bidara when it was in government.
"Even though the Harapan government was brought down but we continued to help the people. Our intent to help the people is not only for the election," he says.
Zainal will be facing Malacca Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mas Ermieyati Samsudin from Bersatu.
Candidates for 8 key seats
11.40am: The following are the official candidates for some key seats:
Rembia
K Murali (Independent-Tree logo)
Zamri Pakiri (Harapan)
Sabarudin Kudus (Independent-Key logo)
Muhammad Jailani Khamis (BN) - defected from PKR
Zamzuri Arifin (PN)
Machap Jaya
Ngwe Hee Sem (BN)
Law Binh Haw (Harapan)
Abdul Aziz Osani (Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional)
Azlan Daud (Independent-Book logo)
Tai Siong Jiul (PN)
Durian Tunggal
Mohd Erfan Mahrilar (Independent-Book logo)
Zahari Abd Kalil (BN)
Sofi Wahab (Harapan)
Ja'afar Othman (PN)
Pantai Kundor
Mohamad Ridwan Mustafa (PN)
Nor Azman Hassan (Harapan) - defected from Umno
Tuminah Kadi (BN)
Paya Rumput
Rais Yasin (BN)
Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin (Harapan)
Muhammad Faris Izwan Mazlan (PN)
Mohamad Hashidi Mohd Zin (Putra)
Mohd Jaini Dimon (Independent-Book logo)
Kelebang
Bakri Jamaluddin (PN)
Lim Ban Hong (BN)
Gue Teck (Harapan)
Ayer Keroh
Michael Gan (PN)
Yong Fun Juan (BN)
Kerk Chee Yee (Harapan)
Bukit Katil
Hasnoor Sdg Husin (BN)
Abdul Hamid Mustapah (Independent - Book logo)
Adly Zahari (Harapan)
Muhammad Al Afiz Yahya (PN)
Malacca DAP chief: It's a tough fight
11.25am: Bemban - Malacca DAP chief Tey Kok Kiew acknowledges that he is facing an uphill battle in Bemban.
"It's very difficult to fight. Why did I come from Bandar Hilir to this challenging area? There is only one reason.
"We want to be the ruling state government and therefore we have to win Bemban," he says.
Tey formerly contested in Bandar Hilir which he won with 83.05 percent of the votes in 2018. In contrast, DAP only won Bemban with 45.4 percent of the votes in a three-cornered fight.
Idris: We need the numbers
11.10am: Asahan - Speaking to the press a distance away from the nomination centre, Pakatan Harapan's candidate Idris Haron says anyone can be the chief minister but they must first muster the numbers.
He was responding to a question on whether he will back Amanah's Adly Zahari as Harapan's chief ministerial candidate.
"What is important is we need to offer something better to the people of Malacca. It has to be 15 of us," he says.
A total of 15 out of 28 seats are required to form the state government.
Idris also does not discount the possibility of a unity government if either coalition falls short.
The three main coalitions contesting in the Malacca polls are BN, Perikatan Nasional and Harapan.
Asahan will see a six-cornered battle.
Incumbent CM to face two challengers for Lendu
11am: Incumbent Malacca chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali, who is representing BN, will face two challengers for his seat of Lendu.
The two challengers are Pakatan Harapan's Mohamad Asri Ibrahim from PKR and Perikatan Nasional's Abdullah Mahadi from Bersatu.
Their candidacy is now official after the Election Commission made a formal announcement following the nomination process.
Meanwhile, Telok Mas will see a four-cornered fight.
Most notably, Malacca Bersatu chief Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen is contesting in the seat.
His three other official contenders are Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman(BN-Umno), Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat (Harapan-Amanah) and Muhammad Ariff Adly Mohammad (independent).
Five-way fight for Bemban seat
10.55am: Bemban - The Election Commission (EC) confirms that Bemban will see a five-way fight.
The EC announces the candidates by order of their names on the ballot paper as follows:
Mohd Yadzil Yaakub (Bersatu-PN)
Azmi Kamis (independent - Car logo)
Ng Choon Koon (independent - Tree logo)
Tey Kok Kiew (DAP-Harapan)
Koh Chin Han (MCA-BN)
Press conferences to be held elsewhere
10.45am: Unlike past years where candidates will speak to the media after their nomination, the Election Commission and Health Ministry are not allowing this to avoid media personnel crowding today.
This is part of measures to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Candidates at a number of nomination centres have said they will be leaving the nomination centres to hold press conferences at their own locations.
Three-cornered fight in Tanjung Bidara
10.35am: Tanjung Bidara - The Election Commission (EC) confirms that Tanjung Bidara will see a three-cornered fight.
The returning officer announces the official candidates as follows:
Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Bersatu-PN)
Zainal Hassan (PKR-Harapan)
Ab Rauf Yusoh (Umno-BN)
Meanwhile, the incumbent Tanjung Bidara assemblyperson Md Rawi Mahmud from BN is present to support Ab Rauf.
This was despite being replaced by Ab Rauf as a candidate.
Rawi says he's confident BN will retain the seat despite Bersatu fielding a heavyweight in the form of a deputy minister (Mas Ermieyati).
"Historically, Tanjung Bidara has always been a BN area.
"BN won with 58 percent of the votes in the last election," he says.
EC to announce nomination details
10.30am: Ayer Keroh - Election Commission (EC) chairperson Abdul Ghani Salleh is set to hold a press conference to announce details about the nomination in 30 minutes.
An EC official confirms that Abdul Ghani will also be unveiling the long-awaited standard operating procedures that will govern campaign activities amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some parties have tried to campaign before the official start today but have been slapped with hefty fines.
The Health Ministry had imposed a blanket ban on campaign activities by political parties.
The EC press conference later today will be closely watched to see if some leeway will be given during the official campaign period.
All running smoothly - Malacca police deputy chief
10.10am: Tanjung Bidara - Malacca police deputy chief Razali Abu Samah said the nomination process at all 28 centres in the state ran smoothly.
"So far, no untoward incidents were reported. Everything is running smoothly.
"At several locations, there were supporters who came but they did not enter the nomination centre and have been dispersed," he adds.
Meanwhile, a Health Ministry official has warned press members gathered under several trees in front of the Tanjung Bidara nomination centre not to be in groups and to observe physical distancing.
The official and a police officer also told the media that no press conferences will be allowed outside the nomination centre, citing pandemic precaution as the reason.
Nomination process ends
10am: The nomination process has finally closed.
Election officials are now going through the nomination forms to ensure that everything is in order.
The official candidates are expected to be announced shortly.
'Hulk': I'm a humble candidate
9.50am: Pengkalan Batu - DAP defector Norhizam Hassan Baktee, who previously referred to himself as "Hulk" pitches his candidacy to the media, declaring that he is a humble and approachable candidate.
"There's no protocol, I'm humble - you can meet me by the roadside even though I was the exco.
"I want to say, I may not have the title IR (professional engineer) but I have JR - jiwa rakyat (the people's heart)," he says.
Asked whether he was slighted that he was not fielded as a candidate by Pakatan Harapan even though some who defected with him were, Norhizam brushed aside the coalition.
"Don't mention Harapan. I'm independent and I have my principles. Who said an independent cannot be an elected representative?
"There are 28 assemblypersons in Malacca but how many can do work? I ask that the people open their eyes and evaluate themselves," he adds.
Norhizam claims that people cried when he visited their area as no one else would help them.
He adds that he had solved 70 percent of the problems that were raised to him.
Bemban shaping up to be five-cornered fight
9.40am: Bemban - Tentatively, it appears that this constituency will be at least a five-cornered fight based on the aspiring candidates who have arrived.
So far, the prospective candidates who have turned up are:
Koh Chin Han (MCA-BN)
Tey Kok Kiew (DAP-Harapan)
Mohd Yadzil Yaakub (Bersatu-PN)
Ng Choon Koon (independent - former MCA)
Azmi Kamis (independent - former PKR)
Azmi says he is contesting as an independent as he was "thrown out" by PKR.
Previously, Azmi had contested unsuccessfully in various seats under the PKR ticket.
He contested in Asahan in 2004 and Rim in 2008 and 2013.
Ab Rauf not CM candidate, says Najib
9.20am - Tanjung Bidara - Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who accompanied Malacca Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh to the nomination centre, assured that the latter is not the chief ministerial candidate.
Najib said this when asked to respond to banners being put up around Malacca declaring Ab Rauf as the chief ministerial candidate.
"No, no, no, we have decided it's Sulaiman," he says.
Opponents have portrayed Ab Rauf as the mastermind behind incumbent Malacca chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali, who will be defending his Lendu seat.
Earlier, Ab Rauf was also asked about the chief minister candidate.
"The party decides," he says.
'Hulk' gives the thumbs up
9.15am: Pangkalan Batu - Former DAP assemblyperson Norhizam Hassan Baktee arrives in a red T-shirt.
The self-styled "Hulk" poses for the media with a thumbs up.
He also shakes hands with the police and thanked them for providing security at the nomination centre.
Norhizam will be contesting as an independent after defecting twice, first from DAP to become an independent friendly to Umno and Bersatu before also turning against them.
In the last general election, Norhizam won the seat with 51.47 percent of the votes under DAP's ticket.
Harapan's Asahan candidate Idris Haron arrives
9.10am: Asahan - Pakatan Harapan's candidate Idris Haron arrives at Dewan Besar Kolej Komuniti Selandar in a peach baju melayu.
He alights from his vehicle and gives the thumbs up to the media and waves.
Idris engages in a brief discussion with his proposer and seconder before entering the nomination centre.
In the last general election, Umno only won the Asahan seat with 45.80 percent of the votes.
Bersatu, which was part of Pakatan Harapan at the time, came in a close second with 43.68 percent of the votes.
PAS, which stood alone at the time but is now part of the PN received 10.52 percent of the votes.
Cops tell BN supporters to leave
9.10am: Tanjung Bidara - Police asked a small group of BN supporters gathered in front of Datuk Kapten Hj Ab Karim community hall, which is being used as a nomination centre for the Tanjung Bidara constituency, to disperse.
The Election Commission has banned any gathering during nomination day due to the pandemic, and nominees are only allowed to show up with one nominator and a supporter.
Ab Rauf: I'm redeeming Umno's honour
9.05am: Tanjung Bidara - Malacca Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh declares that he is redeeming Umno's honour as the prospective candidate for Tanjung Bidara.
He says this when asked about his chances against a heavyweight like Bersatu's Mas Ermieyati Samsudin who is the deputy minister and Masjid Tanah MP.
"I am not fighting Mas Ermieyati, I am fighting a struggle and to redeem Umno's honour.
"The people of Tanjung Bidara will continue to stick with Umno," he says.
BN newcomer to face ex-Umno Idris Haron
8.55am: Asahan - BN's candidate Fairul Nizam Roslan arrives at Dewan Besar Kolej Komuniti Selandar which is the nomination centre for Asahan.
He is the Malacca Umno Youth chief and among the new faces put up by BN in the state polls.
Fairul is tasked to take on his former party colleague, Idris Haron, who was sacked from Umno and will be nominated by Pakatan Harapan to contest in Asahan.
Idris is the key figure who triggered the Malacca polls after he engineered defections in a bid to take over the government.
His attempt, however, failed after the Umno-Bersatu government sought a dissolution of the House.
Idris's previous seat was in Sungai Udang but he won't be defending his old seat. Sungai Udang has substantial army votes which have traditionally backed BN.
Asahan is Idris' birthplace.
DAP's sole Malay candidate eyes Pengkalan Batu seat
8.50am: Pengkalan Batu - DAP's proposed candidate Muhammad Danish Zainudin is at Dewan Bestari Ayer Keroh, which is acting as the nomination centre for the Pengkalan Batu seat.
He is DAP's sole Malay candidate in the Malacca polls.
He will face the difficult task of trying to retain the seat for DAP after the party's incumbent assemblyperson Norhizam Hassan Baktee defected.
Norhizam is expected to contest as an independent.
Based on party announcements, some of the expected candidates include Bersatu's Mohd Azrudin Md Idris and Umno's Kalsom Nordin.
Their candidacy will still depend on whether they get through the nomination process.
Ab Rauf brings entourage despite gathering ban
8.45am: Tanjung Bidara - Malacca Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh arrives with an entourage of around 20 people despite a ban on gatherings.
He is accompanied by former prime minister and BN advisory board chairperson Najib Abdul Razak.
Rauf is clad in a dark blue baju melayu, in the colours of the BN flag. His supporters are likewise dressed in the same colour.
Shortly after Bersatu's aspiring candidate Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who is a deputy minister, also reaches the centre.
She joins her proposer and seconder and only gives a thumbs up when asked about her chances in an Umno stronghold.
They proceed into the nomination centre.
Bemban seat hopefuls arrive
8.40am: Bemban - Former Bemban assemblyperson Ng Choon Koon makes a surprise appearance at Dewan Tok Senara of the Jasin Land Office which is acting as the nomination centre for the constituency.
Ng was formerly MCA's Bemban assemblyperson from 2008 to 2013 but will now be contesting as an independent against his former colleague.
MCA's official candidate is Koh Chin Han, who contested in 2013 but lost.
Koh has also arrived at the nomination centre and is waiting to be admitted when it officially opens at 9am.
Based on the announcement of the respective parties, DAP's candidate will be Tey Kok Kiew while Bersatu's candidate will be Mohd Yadzil Yaakub.
Tey was moved from DAP's safest seat of Bandar Hilir, which was won with 83.05 percent of the votes in the 2018 general election, to Bemban which is significantly riskier.
DAP only won the seat in the last general election with 45.40 percent of the votes in a three-cornered fight.
PKR's Zainal Hassan shows up in red attire
8.30am: Tanjung Bidara - PKR's aspiring candidate Zainal Hassan, clad in a bright red baju melayu, is the first to arrive at Dewan Datuk Kapt (B) Hj Ab Karim which serves as the nomination centre for the Tanjung Bidara seat.
However, he was asked to wait outside until the nomination centre officially opens at 9am.
If the nomination process goes well for Zainal, he is expected to face two heavyweights.
They are Malacca Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh and Bersatu's deputy minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who is also the Masjid Tanah MP.
The Tanjung Bidara state seat is located within the Masjid Tanah parliamentary constituency.
This seat will see the highest-profile clash between Umno and Bersatu.
Tanjung Bidara is a traditional Umno stronghold. In the 2018 general election, Umno won the seat with 58.15 percent of the votes, the largest margin in the state.
PKR only managed to win 23.92 percent of the votes in the last general election while PAS received 17.94 percent of the votes.
Nomination centres to open in 28 constituencies
8.20am: The nomination centres in all 28 constituencies will soon open.
The nomination process will begin at 9am and last for an hour until 10am.
After that, the Election Commission will formally announce the qualified candidates.
The nomination day for this election is more muted compared to past elections because gatherings have been banned due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the past, hundreds if not thousands of supporters from the respective competing parties would gather outside the nomination centre with banners, placards and flags.
This time around, only the candidates, their proposers and seconders are allowed.
The aspiring candidates are expected to start arriving within the hour to submit their nomination papers.
[More to follow]
- Mkini
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