MELAKA: Give some space for all election candidates in the state the freedom to meet the people directly and allocate equal airtime for them, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

       The Perikatan Nasional chairman urged the government to consider easing a little bit of the campaigning restrictions to allow candidates to meet the voters directly.

       "If the candidates are not allowed to meet the voters directly, I believe that it will not give a good impression of them, portaying them as arrogant," he said in a speech broadcast live late Thursday (Nov 11) night.

       He also urged the government to allow each candidate contesting in the Melaka polls equal airtime on national television.

       "Yesterday when I watched the television, it is as if there are no other candidates aside from Barisan and maybe Pakatan.

       "There is little coverage of Perikatan. Such a situation does not give equal representation to all," he said.

       "I urged the Prime Minister, the Communications and Multimedia Minister and television stations to be fair in such a challenging time," added the former prime minister.

       Earlier, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim asked that the chief minister candidates from each coalition be allowed to debate on national television.

       The Election Commission has come out with several restrictions during the campaign period including not allowing physical ceramah, public speeches and walkabouts.

       Early voting is on Nov 16 and polling is set for Nov 20 to elect representatives to the 28 seats in the Melaka State Legislative Assembly.