MELAKA: The Sungai Udang constituency will see a senior retired military officer contesting as an Independent in the Melaka election.

       The 63-year-old Datuk Mohd Zahar Hashim, who was a major-general, was the earliest to arrive at the nomination at Sungai Udang Prison Complex here.

       Three other candidates who also filed their nomination papers were Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad; Pakatan Harapan's Hasmorni Tamby and candidate from Perikatan Nasional Dr Mohd Aleef Yusuf.

       Filing of nominations papers at all 28 centres, statewide started at 9am.

       The Election Commission (EC) has set Nov 20 as the polling date for the Melaka state election and early voting on Nov 16.

       Melaka has 28 state constituencies, with a total of 495,196 registered voters, 254,666 or 51.43% of whom are women and the remaining 240,530 or 48.57% men.