Melaka BN-PN pact could pose 'genuine threat' to PH, says PKR VP [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: A Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional electoral pact in the upcoming Melaka election would pose a genuine threat to Pakatan Harapan (PH), PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa admitted.

Zaliha, who served as PKR's election director for Johor, acknowledged that the formula that delivered victories in Johor and Negri Sembilan could prove equally effective in Melaka.

"Throughout those elections, that formula — BN-PN — was a winning formula for them. We have seen the transferable votes from PN to BN at around 90 per cent.

"If that happens in Melaka, it may work in rural areas and Malay-dominant areas," she said in an episode of the New Straits Times' podcast, Beyond the Headlines.

She said PH's best counter in urban and semi-urban areas would be to drive high turnout among non-Malay voters, particularly young non-Malays.

However, she acknowledged that relying on that strategy alone was insufficient.

"We can't remain dominant only in urban and semi-urban areas. The Malay heartland is also our concern," she said.

Zaliha said PKR had drawn clear lessons from the two state election defeats, identifying weak grassroots machinery and insufficient engagement at the division level as key contributors to the losses.

For Melaka, she said the party would focus on identifying well-known candidates early, strengthening ground machinery, and targeting critical voter segments — particularly young first-time voters, the Indian community and fence-sitters.

"Winning elections is a combination of all. Good machinery is very important. We need to communicate with supporters, engage with them and make sure they understand our ideology and our struggle," she said.

On the risk of BN's state-level cooperation with PN in Melaka undermining the federal unity government, Zaliha said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PH chairman, had been clear that state-level electoral arrangements should not affect federal coalition dynamics.

In the Johor election in July, BN stormed to a commanding 48-seat supermajority out of 56 seats, while PH was reduced to just eight seats and PN was wiped out.

In August, the BN-PN alliance secured a two-thirds majority in the Negri Sembilan election. BN won 18 seats and PN seven, giving the alliance a combined 25 seats. PH was reduced to 11 seats — down from 17 in the previous 2023 state election. PKR contested 18 seats but lost 16, and Amanah was wiped out entirely.

Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa (right) speaking during the recoding of the New Straits Times' podcast, Beyond the Headlines at Balai Berita, Bangsar. -NSTP/Rohanis Shukri

- NST