DUYONG – Barisan Nasional (BN) has reached out to more than 30,000 young first-time voters in Melaka through face-to-face engagements and telephone calls, with positive feedback indicating their willingness to support the coalition in the Nov 14 state election.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the initiative was carried out through the Umno Patriotic School (SPU), which was established under his responsibility as the party's Training Bureau chairman to engage young voters and strengthen BN's support among the demographic.
He said SPU had deployed two to three representatives to each of Melaka's 28 state constituencies to reach out directly to first-time voters, estimated to number approximately 60,000 across the state.
"Our primary objective is to reach out to first-time voters through face-to-face engagements and telephone calls.
“So far, SPU has informed me that we have reached more than 30,000 of them, with positive feedback, as many have expressed their willingness to vote for and support BN,” he said.
The Pahang Menteri Besar also said SPU had produced its fifth batch of graduates, who were involved in the initiative to engage young voters ahead of the state election.
He added that BN had implemented a similar approach during the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, where feedback gathered by its representatives corresponded with the eventual election results.
"We carried out the same initiative during the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections, where the feedback and reports from our representatives were consistent with the actual election results.
“More than 50 per cent of young first-time voters in both states voted for BN, translating their expressed support into votes at the ballot box. I hope we will see the same outcome in Melaka, InsyaAllah,” he said.
He told reporters this after accompanying BN incumbent Duyong assemblyman Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abdul Halem during a walkabout at a restaurant in Kampung Durian Daun, Duyong, Melaka on Monday.
The Election Commission (EC) has set Nov 14 as polling day for the 16th Melaka state election, following the dissolution of the 28-seat State Legislative Assembly on Sept 23.
Nomination day was held on Oct 31, while early voting is scheduled for Nov 10. The 14-day campaigning period will end at 11.59pm on Nov 13.
A total of 79 candidates are contesting the 28 state constituencies, with a coalition requiring at least 15 seats to secure a simple majority and form the state government. A two-thirds majority requires 19 seats.
In the previous state election in 2021, BN won 21 seats, followed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) with five and Perikatan Nasional (PN) with two.