Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh says the controversy surrounding Datuk Seri Najib Razak is unlikely to sway Melaka voters, pointing to past state polls.
MERLIMAU: Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has brushed off the controversy surrounding former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as an election issue, saying voters in Johor and Negeri Sembilan had already delivered their verdict despite similar attacks.
He said the issue should not be seen as the deciding factor in the Melaka state election, pointing to the outcomes of the two previous polls.
“If they think Najib is the main reason they are going to win this election, I just want to remind them that this issue was raised in Johor, Negeri Sembilan and now Melaka, and we already know the results.
“We hope the same results as Johor and Negeri Sembilan will emerge today,” he told reporters after casting his ballot at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Merlimau here today.
Akmal, who is defending the Merlimau state seat for Barisan Nasional (BN), said the campaign atmosphere this year was markedly different from that of the 2021 state election, which was held during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said candidates had previously faced restrictions on physical campaigning, including social distancing requirements and the use of face masks, whereas this year’s campaign had proceeded under normal conditions.
Describing the campaign momentum as extraordinary, he said the atmosphere had been relatively calm, as many voters appeared to have made up their minds well before the official campaign period.
He added that voters’ decisions were likely influenced by their assessment of the state government’s performance, with the election results expected to provide a clearer picture tonight.
On his plans if re-elected, Akmal pledged to continue the “Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat” programme over the next five years, with a focus on reaching out to villages and addressing residents’ concerns.
“We will continue the Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat programmes, where we will enter every village.
“Our priority is not only to deliver on our manifesto, but also to help resolve people’s problems and facilitate their affairs, especially those in Melaka,” he added.
Akmal, who cast his ballot alongside his family, also thanked Election Commission (EC) officers for ensuring a smooth voting process.
He said turnout appeared encouraging at polling centres this morning and urged eligible voters across Melaka to exercise their democratic right.
