Multi-cornered contests in next month’s Melaka state election, including clashes with Bersatu, could improve Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) chances of winning seats in the Nov 14 polls, says state PH chairman Adly Zahari.
He said contests involving three or more candidates were not necessarily a disadvantage to the coalition and could give it an edge over straight fights.
Adly said PH’s past experience in multi-cornered contests had given the coalition more room to plan its strategies to secure victories.
“We cannot control whether other parties field candidates, but we can manage ourselves,” he was quoted as saying by MalaysiaGazette.
Four seats to see PH-Bersatu clashes
PH has announced that it will contest 24 of the 28 state seats, including four constituencies where its candidates will face Bersatu, despite the coalition’s pact with Muhyiddin Yassin’s party under the PH Plus arrangement.
The four seats are Kelebang, Gadek, Ayer Keroh and Pengkalan Batu.
Asked whether the overlapping contests indicated a failure in PH Plus negotiations, Adly, who will defend the Bukit Katil seat, said the matter was not relevant and urged all parties to respect the decisions made.
“Whether there were negotiations or not, and whether they succeeded or failed, that will depend on the outcome on polling day, Nov 14,” he said.
PH focused on its own preparations
Adly also said PH’s decision on which seats to contest was based on the coalition’s preparations in the respective constituencies.
He stressed that PH would not be influenced by other parties’ decisions on where to field their candidates.
“We are neither influenced by nor do we allow ourselves to be influenced by where other parties want to contest.”
