MELAKA, Oct 30 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) does not regard multi-cornered contests in the Melaka state election as a disadvantage, saying a crowded field could instead create more opportunities for the coalition to secure victories.
Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said a straight fight did not necessarily give a party an advantage, as three- or four-cornered contests could, in certain circumstances, offer better prospects from a strategic standpoint.
“Based on my experience in previous four-cornered contests, having more candidates is not necessarily an obstacle to winning. Instead, it can create opportunities that contesting parties can take advantage of.
“There are certainly challenges as well as advantages in terms of our strategy. Sometimes, a straight fight can be more difficult than a three-cornered contest,” he told reporters after a tea reception with Melaka media practitioners in Ayer Keroh here today.
Also present was Melaka PKR chairman Adam Adli Abd Halim.
Adly said PH’s decision to increase the number of seats it is contesting from 21 to 24 was also made after assessing the current political landscape and the coalition’s prospects of winning.
He said the coalition had initially settled on contesting 21 seats on October 24 before reviewing its position and identifying further opportunities to strengthen its chances.
The decision, he said, should not be interpreted as a failure in negotiations with any political party, as PH had made its assessment based on its own capabilities and prevailing political developments.
He said another principle taken into consideration was to ensure that no state constituency was won uncontested, allowing voters to exercise their democratic right to choose their representatives.
“For example, when we realised that Bersatu was not fielding a candidate in a particular seat, that decision had been made without consulting us.
“So we stepped in to ensure the democratic process could proceed as it should. Voters must be given the opportunity to make their choice,” he said.
Nominations will take place tomorrow, with early voting on November 10 and polling on November 14. — Bernama
Date: 30 October, 2026 6:34 pm
Source: Malay Mail
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