Melaka vote puts living costs before 687,697 voters

Melaka will hold its 16th state election on Nov. 14, with 79 candidates contesting 28 assembly seats, Channel NewsAsia reported on Nov. 13, citing the Election Commission.

The Election Commission said 687,697 registered voters are eligible for the Nov. 14 poll, equal to about 24,561 voters for each seat, according to Atlas360 calculations.

The vote gives residents a say in a state where people interviewed by CNA pointed to living costs, tourism-linked earnings, community representation and cultural preservation as concerns. The 79-candidate field equals about 2.8 candidates per seat, according to Atlas360 calculations.

Melaka, about 150km south of Kuala Lumpur, is known for historic streets, colourful trishaws and multicultural heritage. CNA said it spoke with residents from communities including trishaw riders, Baba-Nyonya residents and Portuguese-Eurasian residents.

Tourism is central to the local economy. Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh said more than 11.2 million tourists visited Melaka in the first eight months of 2026, contributing an estimated RM11.32 billion to the state economy, according to CNA.

Ab Rauf attributed the performance to state tourism initiatives and programmes. Melaka also appointed Chinese actress Fan Bingbing as a tourism ambassador in 2024, CNA reported.

For some workers, higher visitor numbers have not removed pressure from household budgets. Afrin Mohd Diron, a 28-year-old trishaw rider and father of two, told CNA he has worked in the trade since 2016 and often spends about eight hours a day taking visitors around Melaka.

Afrin said the fare for a 15-minute trishaw ride has stayed at RM25, or US$6.13, for the past decade. “Back then, RM25 could buy you many things. Now, you can't buy as much,” he said.

He told CNA he averages about five rides a day and has seen more tourists, particularly from China, although business varies with holiday seasons. He also works as a food delivery rider to support his family.

Maintenance adds to the strain. Afrin said he refurbishes his trishaw decorations every six months, costing less than RM2,000 if he does the work himself and up to RM2,500 if he hires someone else.

Traffic policy is another issue for operators in Bandar Hilir. CNA reported that a vehicle-free zone introduced in August 2023 first covered Saturday evenings, then expanded in December 2023 to 54 hours from Friday evening until Sunday midnight on roads including Jalan Laksamana, Jalan Kota and Jalan Istana.

Afrin told CNA the closures may have discouraged some domestic tourists because of parking difficulties. He estimated that his monthly earnings, previously as high as RM2,000 to RM2,200, have fallen to about RM1,000 to RM1,700, while acknowledging that broader economic conditions and seasonal tourism demand also affect income.

The next dated milestone is polling day on Nov. 14, when voters choose representatives for the 28-seat state legislative assembly.