MELAKA: Education activist Mak Chee Kin is ready to contest a state seat within the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency as an Independent candidate in the upcoming state election.

       The Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman decided to consider the aspirations of many locals for him to be a candidate in the Nov 20 polls.

       “I seriously gave thought to it and prepared myself to be a candidate in one of the hot urban constituencies.

       “Locals want change and may cast their votes based on personality rather than going for political parties in the polls,” he said after announcing his interest in contesting in the polls at The Star bureau office at Jalan Hang Tuah here on Monday (Nov 1).

       Mak said from the grassroots’ feedback he garnered, people were unhappy with Opposition assemblymen in the state while having reservations of electing new faces that were 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 also said that from his discussion, he found locals were also not favourable of Pakatan Harapan accepting one former Melaka executive councillor who had not performed when the individual was in office.

       “Pakatan only rejected one of those who defected as candidate without realising one of the exco who quit on Oct 4 had allegedly failed to carry out his duties when was in office, especially managing matters relating to education.

       “In a nutshell, the Opposition cannot go around slinging mud on their opponents by alleging they are corrupt when they (the Opposition) in the state has its own shortcomings,” he said.

       Mak said that he has been apolitical and impartial all this while, but the current political landscape in the state has made him consider being part of the state election.

       Beside Mak, another local activist, Azizah Haron, is preparing to contest in polls with her team of independents by eyeing several state seats.

       Nominations have been set for Nov 8 while polling will be on Nov 20.

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