MELAKA – Thirteen independent candidates contesting in the Melaka election under the Gagasan Bebas (alliance of independent candidates) umbrella have officially signed statutory declarations (SDs) pledging that they would not betray voters’ mandate if they win.
Gagasan Bebas secretary Mohammad Zaki Omar said other than that, should the group succeed in building a coalition to form the next state government, it would table an enactment bill to force assemblymen to vacate their seats if they switched allegiances with the aim of toppling a duly elected government.
“If anyone violates it (enactment), the assemblyman will be given three days to vacate the seat or face legal action,” he told reporters when met here today.
Touching on campaigning, he said everything was going smoothly with the candidates using various means including social media to woo voters in their respective constituencies.
“Even though we place importance on these SDs, efforts to reach out to the voters are still being carried out because we want the voters to understand that we are fighting for the political stability of Melaka.
“As for our manifesto, we plan to unveil it tomorrow and for us, it is not too late even though polling day is only a few days away,” he said.
Twenty-two independent candidates are in the fray in 16 of the 28 seats up for grabs and the 13 of Gagasan Bebas took the step of forming the alliance as a show of strength. The 22 independents are competing against 90 candidates from the three big coalitions – Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan – as well as two small parties, in vying for the 28 seats.
The candidates in Gagasan Bebas are Ariff Adly Mohammad (Telok Mas), Mohd Zahar Hashim (Sg Udang), Abdul Hamid Mustapah (Bukit Katil), Ahmad Muaz Idris (Ayer Molek), Datuk Kamisan Palil (Kuala Linggi) and Datuk Dr Norazlanshah Hazali (Serkam).
The others are Mohd Akhir Ayob (Asahan), Azefen Amin (Gadek), Mohd Jaini Dimon (Paya Rumput), Azlan Daud (Machap Jaya), Mohd Erfan Mahrilar (Durian Tunggal), Muhamad Hafiz Ishak (Duyong) dan Sabarudin Kudus (Rembia). – Bernama, November 15, 2021
