# Malaysian political preparations for Melaka election > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/malaysian-political-preparations-for-melaka-election > Updated: 2026-10-03T03:27:11.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. In preparation for the Melaka state election, Barisan Nasional (BN) and UMNO are implementing rigorous candidate selection and communication strategies. UMNO has established a three-level screening process involving division, state, and national leadership. Candidates are evaluated based on the ‘WALI’ criteria—Winnable, Acceptable, Likeable, and Integrity—and must demonstrate active engagement across multiple social media platforms to reach the public. The party aims to defend at least 21 seats held since the 2021 election. To support these efforts, political entities including the UMNO Information Department and Friends of BN have met to strengthen coordination and communication networks. Concurrently, the Community Communication Department (J-Kom) is launching over 80 programs designed to counter false information and ensure the public receives accurate facts regarding government achievements. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-03: Malaysian political groups strengthen communication ahead of elections Malaysian political groups, including UMNO and Barisan Nasional, are strengthening communication networks, while J-Kom prepares strategies to combat misinformation ahead of the Melaka state election. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/malaysian-political-groups-strengthen-communication-ahead-of-elections ### 2026-10-02: UMNO sets social media criteria for Melaka election candidates UMNO and Barisan Nasional have announced a three-stage screening process for Melaka state election candidates, emphasizing social media activity and the ‘WALI’ selection criteria. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/umno-sets-social-media-criteria-for-melaka-election-candidates --- Cite as: Malaysian political preparations for Melaka election. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/malaysian-political-preparations-for-melaka-election