Follow-Up: BN Chairman Zahid Pledges to Resolve MCA Melaka Candidate Row Before Oct. 31, Says Appointment Letters Still Unsigned
The dispute over Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for Malaysia's Melaka state election saw a new development on October 25, as BN chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition and the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) will discuss and resolve the matter before nomination day on October 31, and that the candidate list can still be adjusted.
Speaking to reporters in Bagan Datuk, Perak, after officiating at the Sultan Nazrin Shah Bridge Run, Zahid said he had met MCA president Wee Ka Siong before the candidate announcement ceremony on the evening of October 24, and that Wee had been surprised because the secretariat had not notified him of the announcement arrangement — confusion Zahid said he understood. Initial coordination has been entrusted to Melaka BN chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh together with the state MCA leadership, Zahid said, and any disputed names can still be negotiated because he has not yet signed the candidates' letters of appointment (watikah); the final handling rests with the MCA president.
The dispute began on the night of October 24, when BN unveiled its candidates for 21 state seats at the Melaka International Trade Centre and the MCA received only two: incumbents Ngwe Hee Sem in Machap Jaya and Lim Ban Hong in Klebang, both defending their seats. Wee, who said he had received no prior notice and had not been part of the seat negotiations, led the leaders and members of the MCA's six Melaka divisions in a walkout, saying the party does not recognize candidates announced without its top leadership's consent and will decide before nomination day whether to contest. Nomination day for the Melaka state election is October 31, with early voting on November 10 and polling on November 14.
Source: GSM·USA
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 马来西亚马六甲红屋广场（Dutch Square）。图片：CC BY 2.0，取自维基共享资源。
- 2026-10-25Follow-Up: BN Chairman Zahid Pledges to Resolve MCA Melaka Candidate Row Before Oct. 31, Says Appointment Letters Still UnsignedThis story
- 2026-10-30Follow-Up: 79 Candidates Confirmed for Melaka State Election With No Nominations Rejected; Six Four-Way Fights Among 28 Seats, Polling on November 14
