Melaka polls: BN-PN upbeat about securing 25 seats
MELAKA: Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional could win as many as 25 of the 28 seats contested in the Melaka election on Saturday, Datuk Seri Dr Ab Rauf Yusoh said.
On the eve of Malaysia's state election, top leaders from all three main coalitions, Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, and Perikatan Nasional, are set to make grand finale rallies in Melaka. These rallies are the final push for each coalition to reinforce their messages, attract fence-sitters, and mobilize supporters ahead of Saturday's polls.
The PH rally is expected to draw a large crowd around the Hang Tuah Jaya parliamentary service centre, with PH chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the helm. The BN and PN joint rally in Bukit Katil, just 2km away, will feature BN chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
Political analyst Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub believes the grand finale rallies could influence the campaign atmosphere, reinforcing party messages, attracting media attention, and encouraging supporters to vote. However, he cautions that large crowds at rallies should not be mistaken for electoral support, as many voters have already made up their minds based on factors like party loyalty, candidate credibility, and local issues.
The youth vote and voter turnout are two key factors that could decide the outcome of the 28-seat contest. With almost half of Melaka's registered voters aged 18 to 39, their choices will be crucial, especially in constituencies with a significant youth population. Both coalitions have been appealing to younger voters, with PH proposing to allocate 30% of local authority contracts to youths and BN and PN outlining initiatives to boost economic opportunities and community well-being.
Universiti Malaya senior political science lecturer Tawfik describes younger voters as a significant demographic, emphasizing the need for parties to engage them through social media, youth-oriented candidates, and manifesto commitments. Universiti Teknologi Mara senior lecturer Dr Siti Faidul Maisarah Abdullah stresses that the most important aspect is getting voters to turn out on polling day, as this will determine the success of all the efforts made during the campaign.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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