KUALA LUMPUR – Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and acting state PKR chief Adam Adli Abdul Halim were among the earliest political heavyweights to cast their ballots as polling kicked off for the 16th Melaka state election today.
Ab Rauf, who is also Melaka Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and the Tanjung Bidara incumbent, arrived at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Jeram in Masjid Tanah, Alor Gajah, with his wife, Datin Seri Zuriyah Ab Aziz, before casting his vote at 8.38 am.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Ab Rauf urged Melakans to turn out in force to fulfil their democratic duty.
He faces a straight fight in Tanjung Bidara against Pakatan Harapan (PH) newcomer Mohd Yunazri Mustamiri — a stark contrast to the 2021 polls, where Ab Rauf clinched a tight three-cornered battle by a 364-vote majority against PH’s Zainal Hassan and Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.
In Bukit Katil, Adam Adli — who is also Deputy Higher Education Minister — beat the morning rush, arriving at SK Dato’ Demang Hussin at 7.45 am to queue alongside fellow voters.
The Bukit Katil seat sees a four-cornered tussle involving incumbent and Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari, PN’s Muhammad Ridzuan Mohd Sarif, Parti Bersama Malaysia’s Dr Aliza Che Amran, and independent Abu Bakar Sabudin. Adly, who is also Deputy Defence Minister, is scheduled to cast his ballot at 4 pm after inspecting polling centres in the constituency.
Elsewhere, several other candidates and state leaders also made early appearances at polling stations:
Kota Laksamana / Ayer Keroh: Melaka DAP publicity secretary Kerk Chee Yee, 34, voted at SJK(C) Notre Dame at around 8.20 am. Defending his Ayer Keroh seat for a third term in a four-way race against Datuk Seri Michael Gan (PN), Muhammad Muhaimin Lau Abdullah (Parti Bersama Malaysia), and Mohd Hamnaim Mohamad (Bersatu), Kerk reminded voters to double-check their designated polling centres to avoid mix-ups.
Machap Jaya: PH contender Datuk Ginie Lim Siew Lin cast her ballot at SJK(C) Machap Umboo, Alor Gajah, at 8.10 am. Her rival, BN incumbent Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem, voted an hour later at 9.10 am at SK Rendah Agama Jaim in Kampung Ayer, Machap. Both are locked in a three-way fight with Parti Bersama Malaysia’s Prasanth Kumar Brakasam. – November 14, 2026