MELAKA – The Melaka election has seen several firsts, starting from nomination day on November 8.
Melaka made history as the first state to follow in the footsteps of Sabah, which changed its chief minister (CM) three times after the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018.
In addition, Melaka – for the first time in its history – is holding the state election separately and not simultaneously with federal seats during a general election.
The Melaka election also sees the participation of Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia and Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional, apart from 13 independent candidates contesting under Gagasan Bebas.
In addition, it witnesses Gerakan using the Perikatan Nasional (PN) logo and PAS, as part of the PN coalition, for the first time ‘sacrificing’ its logo and contesting under the coalition’s instead.
The first time PAS did not use its logo was in GE4 in 1974, when it contested on a Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket, before the Islamic party left BN in 1977 and contested as the opposition in GE5 in 1978.
Gerakan, meanwhile, had previously used the BN logo before leaving the coalition on June 23, 2018, after GE14 – which saw the party defeated in all the 11 parliamentary seats and 31 state seats it contested.
In this election, Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee is also contesting for the first time as an independent candidate to defend the Pengkalan Batu seat that he won in GE14 on a Pakatan Harapan (PH) ticket.
On March 2 last year, Norhizam – who was then Melaka DAP deputy chairman – expressed his support for the new PN state government and was sacked by DAP.
Melaka would also create history if Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who is fielded against Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and PH’s Zainal Hassan in Tg Bidara, is appointed the first female CM – should PN secure sufficient seats to form the state government.
The Melaka CM post was first held by Tan Sri Osman Talib, followed by Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba, Datuk Talib Karim, Datuk Setia Abdul Ghani Ali, Datuk Seri Adib Adam, and Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik.
Also in the list of 12 former CMs are Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Abu Zahar Ithnin, Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, Datuk Seri Idris Haron, Adly Zahari, and Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.
For the first time in the nation’s history – with the new norm – public speeches, lectures, physical campaigning, house-to-house visits, walkabouts, and leaflet distribution to the public were not allowed. – Bernama, November 20, 2021
