Bersama looking to make small gains in Melaka polls, not wins

The Bersama party is aiming for modest electoral gains in the upcoming Melaka state election, rather than seeking a win, as the state is considered a stronghold of the ruling Umno party. Wong Chen, a key leader of Bersama alongside Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, acknowledged the challenging task ahead in Melaka, which is the party's second battle after contesting in Johor.

According to Chen, who is a former PKR leader, the party's goal is to make significant improvements after each election, noting that their performance in Johor was only 6% and hoping to improve to around 12% in Melaka. The party has announced 15 candidates for the Melaka polls, including Dr Solehin Saleh, brother of former Merlimau assemblyman and Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.

Chen stated that Bersama might skip the Sarawak polls and focus on other state elections before the next general election (GE16), with a stronger presence in urban areas like Kuala Lumpur and Selangor compared to Johor and Melaka. He added that Bersama has set its sights on winning 10 parliamentary seats in GE16, a realistic target in his opinion.

Chen also mentioned that Bersama has attracted former members of PKR, Umno, and PAS since its launch in May, and believes a moderate and progressive platform with good Malay leadership and a multiracial approach could appeal to the middle-class and urbanites.