KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan's focus on increasing its seats rather than reclaiming Melaka reflects a pragmatic electoral strategy, but its failure to name a chief ministerial candidate could weaken its appeal, analysts say.
Universiti Utara Malaysia political analyst Professor Dr Azizudin Md Sani said PH appeared to be prioritising winning as many constituencies as possible, with the question of who would lead the state government taking a back seat.
"It is a strategy, but one shaped by the reality that PH knows it faces challenges in securing a supermajority. Its target is therefore to win as many seats as possible in Melaka," he told the New Straits Times.
Azizudin said that while PH could delay naming its chief ministerial candidate, announcing one could strengthen its chances by giving voters a clearer leadership alternative.
In the 2021 state election, Barisan Nasional won 21 of Melaka's 28 seats, while PH secured five and Perikatan Nasional two, giving BN a commanding majority in the state assembly.
Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said yesterday that the coalition aimed to increase its representation rather than regain power, although he acknowledged the possibility of a hung assembly requiring a coalition government.
Adly, who served as Melaka chief minister from 2018 to 2020, said PH did not need a poster boy, urging candidates to focus on their respective constituencies.
Azizudin said PH's prospects would also depend on voter turnout and its ability to attract returning voters, urban professionals and the middle class, alongside the Malay support it was seeking.
"PH may be hoping to gain as much support as possible from outstation voters returning to vote, who look at national issues, as well as middle-class voters," he said.
Universiti Malaya political analyst Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said Adly's remarks reflected PH's recognition of BN's strong political position and the difficulty of overturning its dominance in the state.
"Therefore, PH is adopting a more cautious approach, focusing on defending its five existing seats and making limited gains rather than aggressively pursuing control of the state government," he said.
Tawfik said leadership was another factor, with PH yet to present a chief ministerial candidate with the same political visibility as Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
"Although Adly was a former chief minister, PH chose not to present him as its main leadership alternative, while BN also has prominent figures such as Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and Mohd Noor Helmy Abd Halem," he added.
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