ALOR GAJAH, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Pakatan Harapan (PH) communications director Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil has called on voters in the 16th Melaka State Election to reject a kleptocratic political culture and send a clear message that the people do not want leaders who abuse power.
The Communications Minister said voters should give Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim the opportunity to continue his efforts to rebuild the country by choosing candidates aligned with the Federal Government leadership.
He said although the outcome of the state election would not change the government at the federal level, the votes of the people of Melaka remain important in sending a message about the country's political direction.
"Our votes also send a very important message. Let us give time, space, and opportunity to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to continue his efforts to rebuild our country.
"Let us choose those who are aligned with the Prime Minister, those who are in tune with him," he said when speaking at the Pesta Melaka Rumah Kita event in conjunction with the state election here tonight.
Also present was PH's candidate for the Machap Jaya state seat, Datuk Ginie Lim Siew Lin.
Fahmi said the kleptocratic political culture of the past must not be allowed to return to power, linking it to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal, which he said had affected the nation's finances.
He said the government has had to bear debts linked to 1MDB amounting to more than RM50 billion, which could otherwise have been used to develop public facilities.
"However, the Anwar Ibrahim-led MADANI Government has now succeeded in resolving many of the 1MDB issues. Earlier, Pak Hassan (Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim) mentioned that the total debt we have to repay is more than RM50 billion.
"This means every year we have to pay billions of ringgit - money that should have been used to build hospitals, schools, clinics, and departments, and to repair roads," he said.
Fahmi also contrasted the current government's approach with that of previous administrations, particularly in channelling aid to the people and managing the nation's finances.
He said the MADANI Government under Anwar's leadership has implemented various initiatives to improve the people's wellbeing, including raising the minimum wage and providing allowances to Form Six students starting next year.
"Let us give our solid support to all Pakatan Harapan candidates and, insya-Allah, we will continue working together with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to rebuild our country," he said.
PH is fielding the highest number of candidates, namely 24, followed by Barisan Nasional with 23 candidates, Parti Bersama Malaysia (16), Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (seven), Perikatan Nasional (five), Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (one), and three Independent candidates.
Get the latest news on the state election at https://election.bernama.com/prn/melaka/2026/.
-- BERNAMA