Pakatan PH-Bersatu di Bemban didorong pertimbangan pilihan raya, kata penganalisis

Pakatan Harapan (PH) has given in to Bersatu's demands for the Bemban seat in the PRN Melaka election, according to analysts. The decision was influenced by the threat of discontent among Malay voters towards the Sheraton Step, said Azmi Hassan from Nusantara Academy. PH is hoping that this move will help them attract Malay voters in Bemban, potentially causing an upset, he told FMT.

Azmi also mentioned that this move could help PH gain political support from Malay voters, something that might be difficult to achieve otherwise. However, it is still unclear whether PH will gain political benefits from collaborating with Bersatu, given their role in the Sheraton Step that led to the downfall of the PH government in 2020.

James Chin from the University of Tasmania noted that this move also allows PH to gauge the sentiment of grassroots support for their collaboration with Bersatu before deciding whether to continue wider cooperation. Chin added that dissatisfaction with the Sheraton Step remains strong among PH supporters, who largely blame Bersatu for the previous coalition's downfall.

However, he believes that this dissatisfaction cannot weaken the relationship within the coalition, as DAP has agreed to let Bersatu contest the seat. The PH Election Commissioner, Amirudin Shari, urged all component parties to respect the joint decision and allow Bersatu to contest in Bemban during the PRN Melaka on November 14.

The move faced criticism from former DAP Melaka chairman Damian Yeo, who expressed his reluctance to support the move due to his past association with the party, comparing it to betrayal. DAP members in Bemban also expressed disappointment as the party was not nominated to contest the seat, especially considering their ongoing efforts to build support for the coalition within the region.