Melaka DAP chairman Datuk Tey Kok Kiew said DAP will not run away from contesting in the state election although the party did not agree with the action by Umno leaders in dissolving the Melaka state legislative assembly. - NSTP/NURALIAWATI SABRI.
Melaka DAP chairman Datuk Tey Kok Kiew said DAP will not run away from contesting in the state election although the party did not agree with the action by Umno leaders in dissolving the Melaka state legislative assembly. - NSTP/NURALIAWATI SABRI.

MELAKA: Melaka DAP is ready to contest in astate election although the party is still against the dissolution of the state legislative assembly which paved the way for the snap polls.

Its chairman Datuk Tey Kok Kiew said DAP will not run away from contesting in the state election although the party did not agree with the action by Umno leaders in dissolving the Melaka state legislative assembly.

"DAP does not agree with Umno in proposing the dissolution of the state legislative assembly without taking into consideration the risk of people in Melaka being exposed to the Covid-19 virus.

"However, we will face the state election and will leave it for the people in the state to decide their party of choice to govern the state," he said today.

Tey also urged the Election Commission (EC) to ensure registered electorate in the state who are voters living and working outside Melaka, including those abroad, would cast their vote without placing them at risk of being exposed to the virus.

He also urged the Health Minister and the EC to issue a coherent plan and guideline during the campaigning period as well as polling day for the state election.

This, he said, was to ensure that the state election could be carried out in a safe environment without exposing voters to the risk of being exposed to Covid-19.

In the 14th General Election (GE14), DAP won all the eight state seats it contested. Its ally in PH - PKR, meanwhile, won three out of the seven state seats it contested.

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) which fielded candidates at six state seats only secured two seats in GE14.

Barisan Nasional (BN) won 13 out of the 28 state seats contested.

The snap polls in Melaka was triggered by a political crisis after four government assemblymen withdrew their support for Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali and aligned themselves with PH in the Unicameral August House.

It was reported that Sulaiman had proposed for the dissolution of the state legislative assembly, which was consented to by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam.

Earlier today, EC had announced that polling day for the Melaka snap polls has been fixed on Nov 20. Nomination for the state election has been fixed on Nov 8.