The many firsts in Melaka polls

 

PAS is contesting an election without using its own logo for the first since 1974.

PETALING JAYA: The Melaka state election today sees several firsts.

For the first time in Melaka’s history, the contest for state seats is taking place separately and not with the parliamentary seats in a general election, Bernama reported.

The election also sees two parties, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) and Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional (Iman), making their debut in any polls in the country.

Another first is that 13 of the 22 independent candidates are contesting under a collective banner called Gagasan Bebas. There has never been a group of independents forming a pact prior to any election before.

Also significant is that PAS candidates are contesting under a coalition banner for the first time in 47 years. PAS, which has always used its logo of the moon on a green background, is using the Perikatan Nasional (PN) logo this time around.

According to Bernama, the first time PAS did not use its own logo was in the fourth general election (GE4) in 1974 when it contested on a Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket. The Islamist party left the then ruling coalition in 1977 and has used its own logo in every election since.

Melaka has also created history with the naming of a woman candidate as a chief minister-designate. PN named Mas Ermieyati Samsudin to take charge of the state should it win in the election.

Should the coalition led by Bersatu succeed, then the Tanjung Bidara candidate will be the first woman to be menteri besar or chief minister of any state in the country.

This is also the first time that three of the most recent chief ministers are standing as candidates in the Melaka state election.

Idris Haron, who was the chief minister under the BN administration prior to the 14th general election (GE14) in May 2018, is contesting in Asahan.

His successor, Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Adly Zahary is standing in Bukit Katil, while the chief minister under the BN-led administration following the fall of the PH government last year, Sulaiman Md Ali, is defending his Lendu seat.

For the first time in the nation’s history too, the Election Commission(EC), following the advice of the health ministry, imposed strict SOPs for the election campaign over the past 12 days by disallowing public speeches, lectures, physical campaigning, house-to-house visits, walkabouts and leaflet distribution to the public. - FMT