MELAKA: With election day getting nearer, candidates have ramped up their efforts to secure the support of voters.

       Some have also been seeking divine blessings as well as blessings from their parents before their political fates are decided on Saturday.

       Former chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali performed prayers at four mosques in the state despite his busy campaigning schedule.

       Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional candidate for Banda Hilir Lee Kah Sean said he was getting the blessing of his 80-year-old mother to face the polls.

       “I planned to bring her to my election operations room, but she is too frail and wheelchair-bound. Her blessing is important to me,” Lee added.

       Pakatan Harapan candidate for Pantai Kundor Datuk Nor Azman Hassan said he preferred to carry out charity work at orphanages in his constituency.

       “I wanted to get blessings from all the constituents, but I had to drop the plan due to the (Covid-19) standard operating procedure for the state election. So, I opted to do charity work instead,” he said.

       One of the youngest candidates in the Melaka election, Karen Fong Kai Ling of Perikatan Nasional, said her parents’ blessings were important ahead of the polls.

       She said since this was the first time she was contesting in an election, her parents’ blessings would give her the strength to face the three-cornered battle in the constituency of 28,777 voters.

       Barisan Nasional candidate for Asahan Fairul Nizam Roslan said he would keep engaging with the electorate in his constituency until the end of the campaigning period.

       “For me, the blessings of the voters are more important and I don’t want to make any empty promises on my campaign trail,” he said.

       Kesidang candidate Allex Seah Shoo Chin said he had visited several places of worship in his constituency to get divine blessings as well.

       For the Independent candidate for Rembia, K. Murali Krishnan, getting the blessings of his elders was very important, and he had been going to the villages to meet older voters.

       In Ayer Keroh, MCA candidate Yong Fun Juan said he and his team would reach out to as many voters as possible.

       “The most important thing is that we need to communicate effectively what we want to bring to voters,” he said.

       Yong, who is the Melaka MCA Crisis Relief Squad (CRSM) chief, said he believed that voters would remember his service work through the years, even when MCA was the Opposition during Pakatan Harapan’s administration.

       Yong, who launched his manifesto yesterday, said Ayer Keroh had the potential to drive the state’s economic recovery as the area had several industrial estates.

       “The development of these areas will certainly bring economic spillover benefits to the entire state economy and attract foreign investment and talent, create job opportunities and bring benefits to the people,” he added.

       Meanwhile, Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council president Datuk Shadan Othman urged political parties and Independent candidates not to violate election campaign regulations in their last-minute rush to woo voters.

       He said his enforcement team had removed five political party banners in areas under their jurisdiction.

       He added that the council had to act as the words on the banners could be interpreted as an attempt to foster ill will within the community.

       A billboard at a road junction in Taman Ara at Batu Berendam was also brought down due to public complaints and for safety reasons.