Mubarak says Melaka vote will signal timing of Malaysia's next general election

At Mubarak’s 23rd annual general meeting in Kuantan, its president Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman said the Melaka state election will serve as a litmus test for the timing of Malaysia’s 16th General Election. He argued that Barisan Nasional’s current strength favors an earlier poll, but a BN victory in Melaka could push the general election to the end of the parliamentary term. BN has already secured wins in Johor and Negri Sembilan and hopes to hold onto the 21 of 28 seats it won in the last Melaka contest.

The Election Commission is slated to convene on Oct 7 to decide the election timetable. Aziz also said any UMNO-PAS cooperation for the general election will hinge on a “game of numbers” and candidate viability. Additionally, he called for three deputy prime minister positions—one each for Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak—to ensure inclusive leadership, noting that Sabah and Sarawak are financially robust and should not be excluded.