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

Pakatan Harapan (PH) has handed over the Bemban seat to Bersatu for the PRN Melaka elections due to concerns over public dissatisfaction with the Sheraton Step, according to analysts. Azmi Hassan of the Nusantara Academy explained that PH's decision was influenced by the party's stronger appeal among Malay voters, particularly in the Bemban constituency.

PH lost this seat in the 2021 general election to Dr. Yadzil Yaakub, who subsequently joined the opposition coalition, Wawasan. Azmi believes the move is strategic, as it aims to attract Malay votes and create a surprise. He also emphasized that if DAP contested in Bemban, attracting Malay votes would be extremely challenging. However, it remains unclear whether PH will benefit politically from the collaboration with Bersatu, given PH's role in the Sheraton Step that led to the party's downfall in 2020.

James Chin from the University of Tasmania noted that this step could also help PH gauge the sentiment of grassroots voters towards cooperating with Bersatu before deciding on broader cooperation. Chin added that discontent with the Sheraton Step remains strong among PH supporters, who largely blame Bersatu for the previous coalition's downfall.

However, he pointed out that the dissatisfaction cannot undermine the alliance's relationship, as the DAP leader has agreed to hand over the seat to Bersatu. The PH Election Commissioner, Amirudin Shari, urged all component parties to support the alliance's decision to allow Bersatu to contest in Bemban on November 14 for the PRN Melaka.

The Selangor Menteri Besar expressed that the decision was based on mutual understanding between PH and Bersatu and unanimously approved by all. The move faced criticism from former DAP Melaka secretary Damian Yeo, who preferred to stay away from politics rather than supporting this step, referring to it as a betrayal. A DAP member from Bemban also expressed disappointment that the party was not nominated to contest in the seat, especially considering their ongoing efforts to build support for the coalition in the area.