PRN Melaka: Perbezaan pandangan kerjasama uji kesatuan PH, kata penganalisis

In the run-up to the PRN Melaka, differences in opinion among Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties over the need to collaborate with other parties could test the unity of the coalition, according to an analyst. Syaza Shukri from Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) stated that PH leadership needs to address the concerns of those who may doubt the party's ability to stand alone and benefit from cooperation to increase their chances of winning.

She believes that the central leadership can play a role in resolving these differences. Syaza emphasized that PH should focus on convincing voters that DAP, PKR, and Amanah have sufficient strength to compete independently without any party's support. On the other hand, Khoo Poay Tiong, the President of DAP Melaka, recently stated that PH would contest the Melaka PRN alone without any coalition partnership or alliance with others.

Khoo, who is also the deputy leader of PH Melaka, said that DAP, PKR, and Amanah have agreed to operate independently at the state level. This statement came while PH leadership expressed contrasting views regarding the possibility of collaborating with other parties. The Commissioner of Amanah Khalid Samad reportedly said PH was open to cooperating with any party except the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN).

However, both Khalid and Amanah Melaka's Commissioner, Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat, later contradicted his statement. There is speculation that PH might collaborate with Bersatu in the Melaka PRN, especially after the two state-level leaders dined together last month. Speculation also arose that PH might collaborate with Bersatu during the Melaka PRN, particularly after both state-level leaders had a dinner together last month.

The PRN Melaka is scheduled to begin on November 14, with the selection of candidates set for October 31 and the initial voting on November 10, pitting 28 DUN seats against each other. Syaza noted that DAP Melaka's decision not to cooperate with Bersatu was a move to uphold the principle, taking into account the party's history of separating from PH and leading to the downfall of the previous coalition government in 2020.