KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) is expected to go beyond retaining its 21 seats in the Melaka state legislative assembly, with the coalition potentially gaining another three or four seats in the upcoming state election.
Political analyst and Taylor's University adjunct professor Dr Ong Kian Ming said the current sentiment and momentum of the so-called blue wave could enable BN to wrest at least one or two seats from Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The former DAP strategist said the seats at risk included Bukit Katil, currently held by Amanah, and Ayer Keroh, held by DAP.
He said DAP was also unlikely to reclaim Duyong, where its candidate lost to a BN representative by a majority of just 200 votes in the previous state election.
"There is a possibility that BN could increase its seats from 21 to 24 or 25, as I believe BN will cooperate with Pas.
"I do not think BN will take all five PH seats, but PH could lose one or two, including the seat held by Adly Zahari in Bukit Katil and possibly Ayer Keroh.
"I believe these two seats are in a very precarious position for PH," he said in an interview with BH yesterday.
The Election Commission (EC) has set Nov 14 for polling in the 16th Melaka state election.
EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said nomination day would be on Oct 31, while early voting would take place on Nov 10.
Ong, a former deputy international trade and industry minister, said BN had an advantage in Melaka, partly because PH lacked a consistent narrative, particularly on its approach to cooperation with other political coalitions.
"PKR and Amanah say they want to continue working with BN, but DAP says it does not. This could confuse voters.
"At the same time, DAP has taken a firmer stance in expressing its dissatisfaction with any attempts to secure the release of Datuk Seri Najib Razak," he said.
Melaka DAP chairman and state PH deputy chairman Khoo Poay Tiong previously said that PH Melaka intended to contest the 16th state election independently, without cooperating with Bersatu or other coalitions.
However, acting Melaka PKR leadership council chairman Adam Adli Abdul Halim criticised him, saying no final decision had been made on the form of electoral cooperation.
For the upcoming state election, DAP has indicated that it wants to contest eight of the 28 state seats.
These include its existing seats and other constituencies such as Bandar Hilir, Kesidang, Kota Laksamana, Ayer Keroh, Duyong and Bemban.
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