Ayer Keroh shows DAP still has broad support, says Khoo

Melaka DAP chief Khoo Poay Tiong commented that the DAP's victory in Ayer Keroh demonstrates the party's ongoing broad support from voters across various communities. The chair emphasized that retaining the seat was noteworthy, as many anticipated a DAP loss following the alliance between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.

Ayer Keroh is a mixed constituency with a relatively balanced voter composition, with Chinese voters comprising 46% of the electorate, followed by Malays at 44.1% and Indians at 8.2%. DAP candidate Kerk Chee Yee secured the seat with 14,078 votes, winning by a margin of 5,604 votes, while defeating PN's Michael Gan, Bersatu's Hamnaim Mohamad, and Bersama's Muhaimin Lau Abdullah.

DAP also retained its other three seats in the area: Kota Laksamana, Kesidang, and Bandar Hilir. Khoo attributed the DAP's performance to its long-standing relationship with voters in Melaka, where the party has been present since 1969. However, he expressed disappointment that the party's PH partners did not secure any seats, attributing this to the focus on identity politics centered on Malay and Muslim unity by the BN and PN.

He suggested that the PH would need to improve its performance in future elections and called for a thorough internal analysis to identify areas for improvement.