On 4 November 2021, it was announced Abdul Ghafar would not be picked by UMNO as the BN candidate on nomination day on 8 November to give way to younger face to defend the Asahan seat, considered the hottest constituency in the
Malacca state election on 20 November. After being dropped as the election candidate, he was screened and tested positive for
COVID-19 at a private hospital on 7 November and when his health deteriorated into critical condition later, he was put under an induced coma in the intensive care unit of
Malacca General Hospital on the night of 9 November. Abdul Ghafar subsequently died from the complications at age 65 in the hospital at 1.04pm on 17 November leaving behind his wife, Rabiah Hassan. He was buried according to the
COVID-19 pandemic standard operating procedure (SOP) at the Kampung Asahan Muslim Cemetery in Malacca. == Election results ==