Malaysia’s Melaka state began its election campaign on Saturday after 79 candidates were cleared to contest a poll testing whether Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s governing partners can turn an opportunistic alliance with his Islamist opponents into a platform for national power. The coastal state south of Kuala Lumpur heads to the polls on November 14, handing the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) another opening to deepen cooperation after...
Malaysia’s Melaka poll begins as 79 cleared in test for Anwar’s coalition
The vote will show if the federal allies can resolve grass-roots rifts and turn tactical seat-sharing into lasting governance
Election Commission chairman Ramlan Harun said all nomination papers were accepted, setting up 11 straight fights, 11 three-cornered contests and six four-way races across the 28-seat state legislative assembly.