Melaka votes Saturday amid livelihood and heritage concerns

Voters in Melaka will go to the polls on Saturday, 14 November, to choose a new state government, according to CNA. The state’s 16th state election will see 79 candidates contest 28 seats in the state legislative assembly. Election Commission figures show 687,697 people on the electoral roll may vote.

Ahead of the vote, CNA spoke with residents about their daily concerns. Their views covered earning a living, tourism, cultural preservation and how well communities are represented in government.

Read also: Melaka votes Saturday in test of Malaysia’s political alliances

Tourism growth and tight incomes

Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh said more than 11.2 million tourists visited the state in the first eight months of 2026. He estimated they added about RM11.32 billion to the state economy and credited the state government’s tourism initiatives.

Not every local worker has seen gains. Afrin Mohd Diron, a 28-year-old trishaw rider who has worked since 2016, says fares have stayed at RM25 for a 15-minute ride for about a decade. He says rising living costs have made it harder to get by, so he also works as a food delivery rider.

He estimates his monthly income has dropped from between RM2,000 and RM2,200 to roughly RM1,000 to RM1,700. He links part of the fall to weekend road closures in Bandar Hilir, which began in August 2023 and were later extended to a 54-hour period. He also acknowledges that wider economic conditions and seasonal demand have played a role.

Protecting Baba-Nyonya and Portuguese heritage

Ronald Gan, president of Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Malaysia, says keeping traditions alive for younger generations is central to the community’s future. He welcomes state efforts, including free entry to selected attractions for visitors in traditional dress. He says the association’s limited funding restricts how far it can expand its activities.

Gan also said the community is still waiting for a promised seat in the assembly. Barisan Nasional pledged in 2021 to name a Baba-Nyonya representative if it won a two-thirds majority. The assembly approved a constitutional change in July allowing up to seven appointed members, but no appointments had been announced when CNA reported.

In the Portuguese Settlement, Sara Frederica Santa Maria, 57, worries about land and development. She says land reclamation linked to the Melaka Gateway project has pushed fishermen further out to sea, and many of them lack deep-sea fishing licences. The state ended the project in 2020 after it missed its schedule, and a scaled-down version now plans a cruise terminal for 2028.

Unfinished projects and land security

Arab City, a RM1.2 billion waterfront commercial project, has remained unfinished since 2009. Former chief minister Adly Zahari of Pakatan Harapan has pledged to review abandoned projects if his coalition wins control of the state. Barisan Nasional says the project stalled because of a lack of funding and investors.

Sara’s family home is held under a 99-year lease, with about 30 years remaining. She hopes the next government will extend leases or grant freehold titles to residents. The coalition has traditionally held strong support in Melaka and secured a two-thirds majority in 2021, so the result on Saturday will shape how these issues are handled.

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Sources

• CNA: Livelihoods and heritage preservation on voters’ minds as Melaka heads to the polls

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