The 2026 Malacca state election, formally the 16th Malacca state election, will take place on 14 November 2026. This election is to elect 28 members of the 16th Malacca State Legislative Assembly. The previous assembly was dissolved on 23 September 2026.

All 28 seats of the assembly will be contested. The election will determine whether the incumbent Barisan Nasional government under Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh retains power, or whether opposition coalitions such as Perikatan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan can secure a majority.

Constituencies

Composition before dissolution BNPHPN2053172141111UMNOMCAMICDAPAMANAHBERSATUPASWAWASAN

Background Previous election

The previous state election was held on 20 November 2021 following the dissolution of the 15th State Legislative Assembly. Barisan Nasional won a two-thirds supermajority, securing 21 of 28 seats.

2023: PH joins BN-led state government Barisan Nasional governed alone until 2023, where it invited Pakatan Harapan to the state government to mirror the unity government coalition at the federal level.

2026: PH withdrawal from state government and return to opposition Pakatan Harapan's component party Democratic Action Party (DAP) withdrew from the state government on 14 July 2026 to oppose the BN-led government's move to amend the state Constitution, which would allow the state government to nominate and appoint 7 unelected assembly members.

DAP representatives moved to sit on the opposition benches the next day although state PH chief Adly Zahari (Amanah) remained seated with the government side.

Melaka Pakatan chairman Adly then reaffirmed the decision of the state Pakatan Harapan's departure from the state government during a coalition leadership meeting held on 16 July, agreed by all 3 component parties, PKR, DAP and Amanah, despite calls from Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim for DAP to defer its departure from state government.

Electoral system Elections in Malaysia are conducted at the federal and state levels. Federal elections elect members of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament, while state elections in each of the 13 states elect members of their respective state legislative assembly. As Malaysia follows the Westminster system of government, the head of government (Prime Minister at the federal level and the Menteri Besar/Chief Ministers/Premier at the state level) is the person who commands the confidence of the majority of members in the respective legislature – this is normally the leader of the party or coalition with the majority of seats in the legislature.

The Legislative Assembly currently consists of 28 members, known as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), that are elected for five-year terms. Each MLA is elected from a single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post voting system; each constituency contains approximately an equal number of voters. If one party obtains a majority of seats, then that party is entitled to form the government, with its leader becoming the Premier. In the event of a hung parliament, where no single party obtains the majority of seats, the government may still form through a coalition or a confidence and supply agreement with other parties. In practice, coalitions and alliances in Malaysia, and by extension, in Sarawak, generally persist between elections, and member parties do not normally contest for the same seats.

On 14 July 2026, the BN-led government moved to amend the state Constitution, which would allow the state government to nominate and appoint 7 unelected assembly members. The amendment was passed by a vote of 23-5 - with all 21 BN and 2 PN representatives in support, and all 5 PH representatives voting against.

The voting age is currently 18. Elections are conducted by the Election Commission of Malaysia, which is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Department. Malaysia practices automatic voter registration but does not practice compulsory voting.

Preparations Political parties Barisan Nasional is expected to defend its governing mandate, while Pakatan Harapan aims to regain influence after losing control in 2021. Barisan Nasional may also expand its challenge in Malay-majority constituencies. On 17 May 2026, Chief Minister of Malacca (from Barisan Nasional) disclosed a possibility that his state's election could be held within 120 days after his statement. Barisan Nasional claimed on 30 August 2026 it would negotiate coalition talks after the assembly dissolved. Barisan Nasional conditioned any cooperating parties to allow them to defend all seats it held, leaving only seven for possible partners.

Perikatan Nasional specifically sought cooperation with BN, while also prepared itself to contest alone. However Perikatan Nasional was told by Registrar of Societies to formally pause activities on 22 September 2026. If the issue is unresolved in due time, it can force parties of Perikatan Nasional not to use PN's coalition logo in the election.

Pakatan Harapan and Malaysian United Indigenous Party both stated possible cooperation with other parties without naming specific parties, with speculations both possibly cooperating.

On July 15, while announcing Bersama not contesting Negeri Sembilan state election, de facto leader Rafizi instead stated that this election was the party's next focus.

Seat negotiations among parties are expected to play a major role in determining electoral competitiveness.

Campaign slogans

+PartySloganPerikatan Nasional Menuju Seri Negeri Pakatan Harapan Harapan Bangkit Melaka Rumah KitaBarisan Nasional Melaka Sayang Rakyat (MeSRa)Malaysian United Indigenous Party Progressive Bloc Malaysian United PartyBersama Rakyat, Demi Melaka Yang Lebih Baik

Timeline The key dates are listed below: +DateEvent23 September 2026Dissolution of Malacca State Legislative Assembly.7 October 2026Issue the Writ of Election.31 October 2026Nomination Day.31 October–13 November 2026Campaigning Period.10–13 November 2026Early Polling Days for Postal, Overseas and Advance Voters.14 November 2026Polling Day.

Departing incumbents The following members of the 15th Malacca State Legislative Assembly did not seek re-election. No.State ConstituencyDeparting MLACoalition (Party)Date confirmedFirst electedReason

Incumbents contested in different party

Incumbents contested in different constituency MLACoalition (Party)State ConstituencyFirst electedFormerlyCurrentRais YasinBN (UMNO)N13 Paya RumputN11 Sungai Udang2021

Incumbents lost re-election in the 2026 election

Candidates Candidate announcements are expected closer to nomination day. NoParliamentaryconstituencyNoState ConstituencyNumber of VotersIncumbent MemberIncumbent Coalition (Party)Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitionsBarisan Nasional (BN)Pakatan Harapan (PH)Perikatan Nasional (PN)Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU)Malaysian United Party (BERSAMA)Progressive BlocOthersCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyCandidate namePartyP134Masjid TanahN01Kuala LinggiRosli AbdullahBN (UMNO)UMNOAMANAHPASBERSATUNur Farhana Hamzah BERSAMAN02Tanjung BidaraAb Rauf YusohBN (UMNO) Ab Rauf YusohUMNOPKR BERSATUNot ContestedN03Ayer LimauHameed Mytheen Kunju BasheerBN (UMNO)UMNOPKRPASBERSATUN04LenduSulaiman Md AliBN (UMNO)UMNOPKRBERSATUN05Taboh NaningZulkiflee Mohd ZinBN (UMNO)UMNOAMANAHPASP135Alor GajahN06RembiaMuhammad Jailani KhamisUMNOPKRPASBERSATUMuhamed Aman Akil Abdul Talib BERSAMAN07GadekShanmugam PtcyhayBN (MIC)MIC DAP BERSATULaveen Balaprabhakaran BERSAMAN08Machap JayaNgwe Hee SemBN (MCA)MCAPKRBERSATUPrasanth Kumar Brakasam BERSAMAN09Durian TunggalZahari Abd KhalilBN (UMNO)UMNOAMANAHPASNot ContestedN10AsahanFairul Nizam RoslanBN (UMNO)UMNOPKRPASP136Tangga BatuN11Sungai UdangMohd Aleef YusofRais YasinUMNO PKRMohd Aleef YusofMohamad Ali MohamadBERSATUMohd Ridzuan Abdul Rahman BERSAMAN12Pantai KundorTuminah KadiBN (UMNO)UMNOAMANAHPASBERSATUNot ContestedN13Paya RumputRais YasinBN (UMNO)UMNOAzman AbidinPKRPASBERSATUAbdul Rasid Abu Bakar BERSAMAN14KelebangLim Ban HongBN (MCA)MCAPKRPASYoung Jie Yu BERSAMAP137Hang Tuah JayaN15Pengkalan BatuKalsom NoordinBN (UMNO)UMNODAPPASNorhizam Hassan BakteeBERSATUGoh Han Koon BERSAMAN16Ayer KerohKerk Chee YeePH (DAP)MCAKerk Chee YeeDAPGERAKANMuhammad Muhaimin Lau Abdullah BERSAMAN17Bukit KatilAdly ZahariPH (AMANAH)UMNOAdly ZahariAMANAHPASAliza Che Azman BERSAMAN18Ayer MolekRahmad MarimanBN (UMNO)UMNOPKRPASBERSATUNot ContestedP138Kota MelakaN19KesidangAllex Seah Shoo ChinPH (DAP)MCAAllex Seah Shoo ChinDAPGERAKANBryan Kek Kit Hun BERSAMAN20Kota LaksamanaLow Chee LeongPH (DAP)MCALow Chee LeongDAPGERAKANEthan Lim Zhu Hao BERSAMAN21DuyongMohd Noor Helmy Abdul HalemBN (UMNO)UMNODAPPASNot ContestedN22Bandar HilirLeng Chau YenPH (DAP)MCALeng Chau YenDAPGERAKANMohd Nor Rashidi Ab Jalil BERSAMAN23Telok MasAbdul Razak Abdul RahmanBN (UMNO)UMNOAMANAHPASBERSATUMuhammad Hazwan Mustafa BERSAMAP139JasinN24BembanMohd Yadzil Yaakub MCADAP Mohd Yadzil YaakubBERSATUMuhammad Solehin Saleh BERSAMAN25RimKhaidirah Abu ZaharBN (UMNO)UMNOPKRBERSATUNot ContestedN26SerkamZaidi AttanBN (UMNO)UMNOPKRPASMuhammad Saffie Md Salam BERSAMAN27MerlimauMuhamad Akmal SalehBN (UMNO)UMNOAMANAHPASNot ContestedN28Sungai RambaiSiti Faizah Abdul AzisBN (UMNO)UMNOAMANAHPASBERSATU

Statistics and Summary

Seats contested by candidates

Candidates gender

Candidates age range

Opinion polls Opinion polling has yet to intensify significantly ahead of the election.

Results

Notes

References