Melaka Election Candidate Talks Only After Assembly Dissolution, Says Zahid

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Sept 6 — Initial negotiations regarding candidates for the upcoming Melaka state election will only take place after the dissolution of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The UMNO president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman stated that current efforts and discussions should focus strictly on election ground preparations rather than candidate allocation, noting that the term of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly is set to expire in December.

Zahid made these remarks to reporters after attending the 2026 National Orang Asli Sports Carnival at the Educity Sports Complex today, accompanied by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

Commenting on discussions surrounding prospective prime ministerial candidates for the 16th General Election (GE16) following recent remarks by PAS, Zahid described speculating on the top post as premature.

“Frankly, it is far too early to put forward a particular person to hold that position. The election may still be far away or it may be near, because we do not know when Parliament will be dissolved. I think it is better that we set that issue aside for now,” he said.

Zahid reiterated that the power to dissolve Parliament falls strictly under the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, adding that all coalition partners within the Unity Government will abide by whatever decision is ultimately made.

His comments follow statements made last Friday by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, who claimed the opposition party has selected its prime ministerial candidate for GE16 but maintained that the time was not yet right to reveal the individual’s identity.

–NMT