PH-Bersatu cooperation could widen Malay voter reach in Melaka election
KUALA LUMPUR: Cooperation with Bersatu could help Pakatan Harapan (PH) reach more Malay voters in next month’s Melaka election, but wresting power from Barisan Nasional (BN) will remain difficult.
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan (PH) could potentially broaden its appeal among Malay voters in the upcoming Melaka election through a collaboration with Bersatu, according to senior political science lecturer Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub. However, ousting Barisan Nasional (BN) from power remains a daunting task. Dr Tawfik stated that PH would require winning 15 out of the 28 contested seats, but several factors are in BN's favor, including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh's performance, several BN assemblymen's accomplishments, as well as Umno-BN's popularity and grassroots strength in Melaka.
Dr Tawfik pointed out that DAP's four seats in Kota Laksamana, Kesidang, Bandar Hilir, and Ayer Keroh would be challenging to contest, as each had been won by a margin exceeding 5,000 votes in previous elections. Nonetheless, the potential shift in Chinese voter sentiment, observed in state elections of Sabah, Johor, and Negri Sembilan, could still impact the DAP candidates' performance in these seats.
Furthermore, Dr Tawfik anticipates intense competition in the two MCA-held seats, Machap Jaya and Klebang, which have voter majorities under 1,000. PH won five seats in the 2021 Melaka state election, with four of them secured by DAP and one by Amanah, while PKR did not secure any seats. PH was reportedly contemplating a partnership with Bersatu for the 16th Melaka election, with PH's election director, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, responsible for assessing the feasibility. As of now, neither party has made an official announcement regarding the cooperation.
Dr Tawfik highlighted that political cooperation, such as between PH and Bersatu, does not guarantee the automatic transfer of votes, including Malay votes. He emphasized that Bersatu's support may not seamlessly translate to PH and cited Bersatu's poor performance in previous Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections, which could potentially recur in Melaka.
Dr Tawfik cautioned PH to exercise caution while considering a partnership with Bersatu, as it might drain PH's campaign machinery and financial resources without necessarily improving its prospects of securing contested seats.
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