MELAKA: Pakatan Harapan will field 24 candidates in the upcoming Melaka state elections after setting aside earlier discussions on a possible PH Plus arrangement.
PH Melaka chairman Datuk Seri Adly Zahari said the coalition had initially announced 21 candidates on Oct 24 but decided to up the number to 24 after assessing its machinery, candidates’ capabilities and public acceptance.
The 24 candidates comprise 10 from PKR, seven from Amanah and seven from DAP.
“We believe we have the ability to win (the seats we are contesting) while retaining the five we currently hold,” he said at a closed-door hi-tea session with members of the media here on Friday (Oct 30).
Pakatan won five seats in the 2021 state election through Adly in Bukit Katil, and DAP representatives Kerk Chee Yee in Ayer Keroh, Allex Seah Shoo Chin in Kesidang, Low Chee Leong in Kota Laksamana and Leng Chau Yen in Bandar Hilir.
On the proposed PH Plus cooperation, Adly said the coalition decided to go solo after holding informal discussions on the 24 constituencies it would contest.
Adly added that all three component parties would mobilise their machinery to support every candidate, regardless of party affiliation, as all were contesting under the Pakatan banner.
He also said multi-cornered contests could offer strategic advantages, noting that two-cornered fights were sometimes more difficult than contests involving three or more candidates.
Meanwhile, Melaka PKR State Leadership Council chairman Adam Adli Abd Halim said Pakatan’s decision to contest 24 seats was based on its own preparations and capabilities, rather than the seat arrangements of other political coalitions.
He said the coalition would not be influenced by how many seats other parties chose to contest.
“We cannot control other parties from fielding candidates. What we can control is ourselves within Pakatan,” he said.
Adam said Pakatan also believed that no state constituency should be won uncontested, as voters must be given the opportunity to choose.
He cited an instance where Bersatu did not field a candidate in a constituency, prompting Pakatan to enter the contest to ensure the democratic process was upheld.
