BERSAMA positioned as a strong contender ahead of the Melaka election with 15 candidates!

MELAKA: Political analysts caution against underestimating the potential impact of Parti Bersama Malaysia (BERSAMA) in the upcoming Melaka State Election.

Despite being a newly restructured political party led by President Rafizi Ramli and Deputy President Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, BERSAMA has taken strategic strides following its initial electoral outing in the Johor State Election. In Johor, BERSAMA fielded candidates across 15 assembly seats. While the party did not capture seats and suffered deposit forfeitures, its presence directly split Pakatan Harapan’s vote share in several contested constituencies. PH’s defeat in Bukit Batu and Perling could be attributed to votes split by BERSAMA candidates.

Opting not to contest in the Negeri Sembilan state polls, BERSAMA utilised the hiatus to analyse voting patterns, refine candidate selection, and bolster its organisational framework. The party’s momentum further increased following the entry of former Subang Member of Parliament Wong Chen from PKR.

Early Candidate Declarations and Strategic Selections

In a departure from traditional Malaysian political practices, where major coalitions announce candidates shortly before Nomination Day to minimise internal friction, BERSAMA announced its candidates for 15 out of Melaka’s 28 state constituencies well in advance.

Party leaders state that declaring candidates early allows nominees to initiate ground campaigns, build rapport with constituencies, and establish local operations. Candidates were finalised following a rigorous multi-stage interview and vetting process conducted over recent weeks.

Diverse Lineup and Notable Contests

The 15 announced candidates reflect a diverse demographic slate across key constituencies:

*Non-Malay Constituencies: BERSAMA has fielded two Indian candidates, Lavin Balaprabhakaran in Gadek and Prashanth Kumar Prakasiam in Machap Jaya. Four Chinese candidates have been named: Young Jie Yu (Kelebang), Goh Han Koon (Pengkalan Batu), Dr Bryan Kit Hun (Kesidang), and Ethan Lim Zhu Hao (Kota Laksamana). These appointments target traditionally DAP-held seats to split non-Malay votes. In the 2021 state assembly elections, Kelebang was won by PKR while the other three seats were won by DAP. It is clear that for PH to win back these seats, it will depend on the performance of the Bersama candidates.

*Key Malay Constituencies: BERSAMA has positioned candidates in Malay-majority seats to challenge both Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional. Notably, in Bemban, BERSAMA has fielded Dr Mohd Solehin Salleh, a medical doctor operating four clinics across Melaka and Johor. Dr Solehin is the elder brother of UMNO Youth Chief and Melaka State Exco member Dr Akmal Salleh. Dr Mohd Solehin is seen as the star candidate among the 15 candidates announced.

Analysts note that BERSAMA’s early campaign mobilisation could create multi-cornered contests, making race dynamics across Melaka’s assembly seats unpredictable.