MELAKA: Education activist Mak Chee Kin says he is ready to contest a state seat within the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency as an independent in the upcoming Melaka polls.

       “Locals want changes and may cast their votes based on personality rather than going for political parties,” he said after announcing his interest yesterday.

       Mak said from the grassroots’ feedback he garnered, people are unhappy with Opposition assemblymen in the state, while having reservations about electing new faces that may be fielded as candidates by other political coalitions.

       “Opposition leaders in the state should also bear the blame over the ‘Melaka Move’ (the toppling of Barisan Nasional/Perikatan Nasional-led state government on Oct 4) and not only by pointing their fingers at their rivals.

       “They too wanted power,” he said.

       Mak added that he is not supporting any political party but was only describing the sentiments on the ground.

       He said locals did not look favourably at Pakatan Harapan accepting a former state executive councillor, whom they alleged had not performed while in office.

       Meanwhile, an ex-navy man is the first from the Melaka Sikh community to announce his candidacy as an independent contesting in the upcoming Melaka election.

       Mohan Singh Booda Singh said he will contest in the Gadek seat.

       The 60-year-old lawyer by profession said more effort must be placed to unite Malaysians and this initiative can be started from Melaka.

       Another local activist Azizah Haron is preparing to contest in polls with her team of independents in several seats.

       The polls were triggered following the dissolution of the Melaka state assembly after Sungai Udang assemblyman Datuk Seri Idris Haron and three others withdrew their support for then chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.