Pakatan Harapan completes Melaka candidate vetting, imposes bond and fines

Pakatan Harapan announced that its candidate vetting process for the upcoming 16th Melaka state election is complete, incorporating background checks by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. Fahmi Fadzil, the coalition’s communications director, said each candidate will be required to sign a party bond, with violations subject to substantial fines - the previous benchmark for MPs was RM10 million. He noted the slate will combine fresh faces with experienced politicians, adjusted for constituency shifts after talks among coalition partners.

The official candidate list will be released on Oct 24, with nomination day set for Oct 31 and early voting on Nov 10. The election itself is scheduled for Nov 14; in the last state poll, Barisan Nasional won 21 of 28 seats while Pakatan Harapan secured five.