MELAKA: Chief minister candidates among Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional should be allowed to have a public debate and be broadcast on official government media, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

       The Pakatan Harapan chief also welcomed the government's willingness to consider giving space to candidates in the Melaka state election to appear on government radio and television channels, in order to share their messages across.

       "I am confident that this proposal provides the best platform to raise Malaysia's name as a healthy and mature democracy," he said in a statement on Facebook on Thursday (Nov 11).

       Both Pakatan and Barisan have announced their chief minister candidates, namely Melaka Pakatan chief Adly Zahari and Barisan's Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Al,i should it capture the state.

       Only Perikan has yet to name its candidate.

       On Wednesday (Nov 10), Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa was reported as saying that the government was looking into the matter, as it understood the difficulty faced by all political parties, especially new candidates, to campaign in the new normal.

       The Election Commission has come out with several restrictions during the campaign period including 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.