A tougher battle this time
All sides banking on experiences and credentials to woo voters
MELAKA: In the Melaka state polls last year, Barisan Nasional swept 21 of the 28 seats but the battle this time could prove to be harder.
A Barisan war room volunteer said its election machinery was working extra hard to get to voters.
“The war room has been kept busy to counter the allegations with facts.
“Even during ceramah, speakers have been asked to counter the negative narrative against Barisan,” said an insider.
However, Barisan could still get the votes, especially from its loyalists in rural seats.
The coalition stands a good chance of maintaining its two strongholds – Jasin and Masjid Tanah.
In GE14, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin won the Masjid Tanah seat under the Barisan ticket but defected to Bersatu when Barisan failed to form the Federal Government.
She is now contesting under the Perikatan Nasional ticket, but there is a good chance that Barisan can wrest it back through a fresh candidate – 37-year-old Abdul Hakim Abdul Hamid.
However, Perikatan will put up a good fight, especially with the pressure to retain the seat and to break Barisan’s entrenched dominance, especially among the older voters in the Malay-majority seat.
It remains to be seen if Muda’s candidate Mutalib Uthman will benefit from the 51% young voters out of the constituency’s 69,098 eligible electorates.
In Tangga Batu and Hang Tuah Jaya – seats held by Pakatan Harapan – there is a 50-50 chance of a swing towards Barisan after it managed to improve its grassroots support.
Barisan is fielding Datuk Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali – the son of Melaka Yang di-pertua Negeri and former chief minister Tun Mohd Ali Rustam – in Hang Tuah Jaya, which is seeing a four-cornered fight.
The incumbent, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, is not defending the seat but has instead taken on a bigger battle – he is up against Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Bagan Datuk.
Despite his connection, talk on the ground is that the 36-year-old Mohd Ridhwan is an able candidate in his own right and has close rapport with local voters, especially the young constituents.
Pakatan’s incumbent Rusnah Aluai in Tangga Batu is in for a big fight against four other contenders, including Barisan’s Datuk Lim Ban Hong, the Melaka MCA chief.
Lim is known for his friendly disposition and approach, especially among his voters in Klebang.
A political observer described the 45-year-old as a soft-spoken and a well-liked politician.
“He has strong connections with the ordinary folk due to his modest demeanour,” said the observer.
Pakatan, too, is facing a fair share of criticism.
Locals are blaming PKR and DAP assemblymen for the downfall of the state government in March 2020.
Messages are also going around alleging that Pakatan MPS will do a “disappearing act” once they win and urging voters not to be swayed by the coalition’s empty promises.
Pakatan is expected to maintain its win in Kota Melaka as incumbent Khoo Poay Tiong of DAP has efficiently served his constituents and allocated funds for vernacular schools, mosques and other places of worship.
But the coalition may face a setback in Hang Tuah Jaya where PKR youth chief Adam Adli has been fielded.
Resentment has grown among the PKR grassroots, although Adam is young and a vibrant candidate.
Some supporters felt the party leadership had undermined them and needed to be “taught” a lesson so as not to take them for granted.
In Alor Gajah, former chief minister Adly Zahari of Amanah seems to be getting support from the grassroots.
Adly is popular among Melaka folk for introducing people-centric programmes when he led the state administration such as free parking on weekends, and made available a slew of agricultural initiatives for rural folk.
He is contesting against Barisan’s “parachute” candidate Shahril Hamdan and incumbent MP Datuk Seri Redzuan Mohd Yusof of Perikatan.
The good-looking 37-year-old Shahril is Umno information chief with impressive credentials and is one of the dozens of young candidates that Barisan is fielding in GE15.
Graduating in economy and politics from University of Manchester, he has a Master’s from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science.
He is also the economic director in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Shahril is said to be making inroads into the heart of the grassroots in Alor Gajah and has been actively engaging with them from even before nomination day.
Redzuan, on the other hand, is banking on his past service in the constituency to retain the seat.
Although it’s hard to tell who will win, political observers agree on one thing – the real fight for Melaka seats is just between Barisan and Pakatan.