MELAKA: Parti Bersama Malaysia is targeting 15% of the popular vote in the Nov 14 polls as it seeks to build a loyal support base ahead of the next general election, says Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.
The Bersama leader said reaching the target would demonstrate that the party could compete with established political parties despite contesting independently.
“If we manage to secure 15% of the votes in Melaka, it will confirm that Bersama has its own loyal supporters who believe in our struggle.
“That would put us on equal footing with established parties, which are stronger because they operate in coalitions,” he told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday (Nov 10).
Rafizi said Bersama hoped to improve on the 3% to 6% vote share he said it secured in Johor, where the party made its electoral debut.
He acknowledged that reaching 15% remained uncertain but said the party’s campaign machinery had grown more enthusiastic as voter engagement improved.
“People in Melaka know Bersama better because we have been campaigning for three or four months.
“When they see us continuing our efforts, they are more willing to engage with us,” he said.
Rafizi said Melaka voters appeared more guarded about their political preferences than those he encountered in Johor and Negri Sembilan.
“They will come and talk to us. Some say things need to change, but we cannot tell what kind of change they want,” he said.
He added that some voters might not necessarily support political alliances agreed upon by party leaders, making voting patterns difficult to predict.
On efforts to win over young voters, Rafizi criticised politicians who relied on what he described as “performative politics” instead of addressing economic concerns.
“The real issue facing young people is employment opportunities.
“Many are forced into informal jobs without good career prospects unless they move to Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
Rafizi warned that politicians who focused on flashy activities, including motorcycle programmes and carnivals, risked losing credibility among younger generations.
“If politicians are not careful, they will end up becoming clowns in the eyes of young people, who will simply troll those trying too hard to impress them,” he said.
He questioned whether organising entertainment-driven activities would translate into genuine electoral support.
“Just because they attend your carnival does not mean they will vote for you,” he said.
Rafizi said attracting young voters required more than fielding younger candidates, adding that meaningful engagement must be consistent rather than confined to election campaigns.
He said Bersama had organised weekly sporting activities over the past three months, including futsal, sepak takraw, pickleball and snooker, with young people making up most participants.
“We want to give young people a sense of purpose, not have them waiting around to cheer, ride motorcycles and receive petrol money,” he said.
Rafizi said young voters would ultimately judge politicians by their sincerity and consistency.
“They observe whether you are doing something just because there is an election or whether it is genuinely what you want to achieve for their generation.
“Building that relationship takes time,” he said.
