PAKATAN Harapan (PH) needs to secure more than 30 per cent of Malay votes to stand a chance of winning most of the seats it contests in the Nov 14 Melaka state election, says its state chairman Adly Zahari.
Adly said Malay support would be a key factor in the polls, given the mixed voter demographics in many constituencies and the prospect of close contests.
He said PH also faced the challenge of identity politics, which could influence voter preferences, particularly in marginal seats.
“PH needs to secure more than 30 per cent of Malay votes. If we achieve that level, we have a chance of winning most of the seats.
“If we secure around 20 per cent, we may only be able to add a few seats. However, if we fail to reach 20 per cent, PH risks losing some of the seats it currently holds,” he told Mingguan Malaysia in an interview.
Adly, who is also Deputy Defence Minister, said PH had not discussed appointing a *poster boy* for the election, as its strategy was to ensure every candidate focused on winning their respective state seats.
He said a prominent coalition figure would offer little advantage if candidates failed to win or retain their constituencies.
The decision on a ‘poster boy’ had not been discussed at state or PH secretariat level, he said, adding that he was unsure whether the matter had been raised at the coalition’s presidential council.
Adly said PH had not fielded a poster boy in the Johor state election, while the then menteri besar had served as the coalition’s main face in Negeri Sembilan.
He stressed that winning seats remained the priority, noting that the person presented as a coalition’s leading figure did not necessarily become the eventual choice for chief minister.
On the challenge from Parti Bersama Malaysia (BERSAMA), Adly said PH would not underestimate the party’s ability to attract support, particularly among new voters.
He said some of Bersama’s issues overlapped with PH’s agenda, potentially drawing away PH supporters if the coalition experienced internal divisions.
“If PH is not united, some of its voters will go to Bersama,” he said, adding that the new party was targeting a sizeable pool of first-time and newer voters.
Adly said Bersama might not win seats but could affect the outcome by splitting votes in closely contested constituencies.
He cited the 2021 Melaka election in Pengkalan Batu, where independent candidate Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee secured 1,218 votes, while BN’s Datuk Kalsom Noordin defeated PH’s candidate by a majority of just 131 votes.
BN won 21 of the 28 seats in that election, while PH secured five and Perikatan Nasional won two.
Bersama has said it will contest the upcoming election independently and has announced candidates in several constituencies also targeted by PH, including Pengkalan Batu, Ayer Keroh, Bukit Katil, Kesidang and Kota Laksamana.
The Election Commission has set nomination day for Oct 31, with polling scheduled for Nov 14. - October 25, 2026