24/04/2026

FRIDAY | APR 24, 2026

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‘PH may prefer more time before Malacca heads to polls’

Expert: No compelling legal basis to postpone state election PETALING JAYA: There is no compelling legal basis to delay the upcoming Malacca state election, said former Balik Pulau MP and legal expert Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff. “As far as I know, the election can still be conducted until the end of the year. Any decision on this rests with the state government, involving the Yang di-Pertua Negeri as well as the chief minister. This is clearly within the powers of the state,” he told theSun. He added that in practice, political considerations often extend beyond the state level, particularly when the ruling coalition in a state is aligned with the federal government. “A state administered by a particular coalition will usually take into account wider considerations, including the interests of the federal government. “That is part of how our parliamentary democracy functions.” Yusmadi said any delay in holding the polls must strictly adhere to constitutional provisions. He cautioned against arbitrary decisions, emphasising that the Federal Constitution and relevant state laws provide clear boundaries. “In my view, any postponement can only be justified if it does not contravene constitutional provisions. The law is clear on this.” He said exceptions to the rule do exist but only under extraordinary circumstances such as a state of emergency. He added that even then, such measures must be grounded in legal justification and follow established constitutional mechanisms. Yusmadi said there is no indication of any emergency at present that would warrant invoking such exceptional measures. “For now, I believe it is too early to talk about postponement. “There are no concrete facts suggesting the need for any exception. “Until such circumstances arise, all processes should comply with constitutional requirements.” He was commenting on calls for the postponement of the Malacca state election. In the last polls, Barisan Nasional won 21 out of the 28 seats. – By IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Evolving political calculations, fluid public sentiment continue to shape debate over timing of state election, say analysts

later being clarified as a personal view, hint at internal deliberations within the party. “This is not unusual in large political parties. It reflects differing tactical considerations whether to capitalise on current momentum or wait until economic conditions and public sentiment become more favourable.” He said the firm stance taken by Ab Rauf in rejecting any delay, however, signals confidence within the state leadership. “That position indicates that the current leadership believes that its political legitimacy and electoral machinery are strong. In electoral politics, the willingness to go to the polls often reflects an internal assessment that support is under control.” Awang Azman said on the opposition side, calls by DAP to postpone the election could be interpreted on multiple levels. “While officially framed around concerns such as the cost of living and global uncertainty, there are also harder political perceptions at play.” He said these differing positions do not necessarily indicate disunity but reflect the increasingly multi layered nature of Malaysian politics. He also outlined three key implications arising from the current debate. “First is the clash between competing narratives. The state government and Umno are projecting stability and confidence while those advocating postponement are emphasising concern for the people. This is essentially a battle of perception. “Second is the test of cohesion within the Unity government. Differences in stance between coalition components such as DAP and Umno, while still controlled, suggest that internal alignment is evolving. “Third is the signal being sent to undecided voters”, said Awang Azman, adding that voters are increasingly sensitive to cues of confidence and consistency. He said the Malacca election debate is ultimately not merely about whether to delay or proceed but also about timing, narrative control and political psychology. “In the current environment, the advantage will go to the side that can best manage perceptions, not only among political elites but also, more importantly, among ordinary voters.” Ahmad Zahid said the Rumah Bangsa initiative has boosted Umno’s support, with 10,000 new online membership applications in just 48 hours. He said this development has prompted a proposal to establish a direct membership mechanism at the BN level in the near future, which has been agreed upon by the BN secretary-general. – Bernama

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) appears more hesitant to head into the Malacca state election at this point compared with Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN), as evolving political calculations and fluid public sentiment continue to shape the debate over the timing of the polls, say analysts. Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh had recently commented that there are insufficient reasons to postpone the upcoming Malacca state election. The five-year term of the state legislative assembly ends in December. International Islamic University Malaysia associate professor Dr Syaza Shukri said the current dynamics suggest that all sides are making strategic assessments but PH, in particular, may prefer more time before heading to the ballot box. “In my view, everyone is making their own calculations. For the Unity government, I think it is not very

and cost-of-living concerns. She said at the state level, Umno and BN appear confident of their standing in Malacca. “Locally, Umno is confident because it is still strong on the ground in Malacca. The sentiment there remains pro-Umno, so there is no issue if the election is held early.” She added that the question is whether PH as a coalition partner in the Unity government shares that readiness. Universiti Malaya political analyst Datuk Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the issue of delaying the Malacca state election reflects a complex clash of political narratives rather than merely a technical disagreement over timing. He pointed out that earlier remarks by Ummo leader Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan suggesting a possible postponement, despite

confident if the election is held soon. “At the beginning of the year it looked confident, with reform announcements. The economy seemed okay and the Opposition was disorganised. But now it appears to be the opposite,” she told theSun . Syaza said PH would likely benefit from delaying the election to rebuild its public image, particularly in the aftermath of global developments such as the Iran conflict which has had indirect economic repercussions. “PH would prefer more time to restore its image. Even if the direct impact of the Iran war is not strongly felt by ordinary people, the broader narrative is that the government is not doing enough,” she said, pointing to rising dissatisfaction over energy prices

Syaza said Umno and BN appear confident of their standing in Malacca. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

Umno, BN did not call for postponement, says DPM KUALA LUMPUR: Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) have never taken a position that the Malacca and Johor state elections should be postponed following current “That is not Umno’s stance. That is not BN’s stance. It is an individual’s personal view, and there is no endorsement from the party. titled “The Impact of the US-Iran Conflict on Malaysia,” at Menara Dato’ Onn.

proposal to postpone the Malacca and Johor state elections until the economic situation following the West Asian geopolitical crisis stabilises. The Johor Umno deputy chairman was of the view that ongoing geopolitical uncertainties continue to drive up the cost of living, including prices of fuel and essential goods.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also BN chairman, said the coalition, and particularly Umno as its backbone, is always ready to face state elections at any time. Zahid was responding to Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan’s previous

“So in that situation, don’t decide to postpone. That would only give others ammunition to turn against us.” He was speaking on Wednesday at the 10th Better Nation Forum

geopolitical developments, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Umno president said the suggestion for postponing the polls is merely a personal opinion.