PAKATAN Harapan (PH) and Bersatu may have found common ground in Parliament, but in Melaka they are asking many of the same voters to choose between them.
The unusual arrangement has turned Ayer Keroh, Kelebang and Pengkalan Batu into tests of whether their cooperation at federal level can coexist with electoral rivalry, even as Barisan Nasional (BN) faces challenges in several constituencies it won by narrow margins in the 2021 state election.
The overlap is particularly striking following the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CSA) between Bersatu MPs and the Madani government.
While the arrangement has opened the door to cooperation on parliamentary matters, it has done little to prevent both sides from pursuing their own electoral ambitions in Melaka.
PH is contesting 24 of the state’s 28 seats, while Bersatu is fielding candidates in seven.
Some Bersatu leaders have described the overlapping contests as part of the democratic process.
However, a source familiar with discussions within the PH leadership suggested the arrangement was also intended to influence the distribution of Malay votes.
The source said PH could remain competitive by retaining its established support among Chinese voters while attracting a portion of the Malay electorate, even in constituencies where Bersatu is also contesting.
The electoral composition of the affected seats provides some context to that calculation.
Based on fourth-quarter 2024 electoral roll figures, Malays account for about 69% of voters in Kelebang and 65% in Pengkalan Batu.
Ayer Keroh has a different profile, with Chinese voters making up 47.6% of the electorate compared with 42.4% Malays.
Whether the arrangement works as intended remains uncertain.
The presence of competing candidates does not necessarily mean votes will be divided along party or ethnic lines, particularly when voters have their own considerations in choosing their representatives.
The stakes extend beyond the three overlapping contests.
At least six constituencies are expected to draw close attention, with several carrying the legacy of narrow victories in the previous state election.
Pengkalan Batu is one of them. BN wrested the seat from DAP in 2021 with a majority of just 131 votes.
This time, BN’s Siti Aisyah Mahmood faces PH’s Jason Tze-Xi Nathan, Bersatu’s Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee and BERSAMA’s Goh Han Koon.
Norhizam’s return adds another dimension to the contest.
He previously represented the constituency and secured 1,218 votes as an independent candidate in the 2021 election.
In Kelebang, BN incumbent Datuk Lim Ban Hong faces PH’s Farzana Hayani Mohd Nasir, Bersatu’s Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad and BERSAMA’s Young Jie Yu.
Mohamad Ali, a former Umno leader and former deputy president of the Dewan Negara, is among the candidates whose presence could affect the distribution of votes, particularly among Malay voters.
Lim, meanwhile, will be seeking to retain support across polling districts with different ethnic compositions as BN faces challenges from both PH and Bersatu.
Bukit Katil presents another closely watched contest, with PH chairman Adly Zahari defending the seat against Perikatan Nasional’s Muhammad Ridzuan Mohd Sarif, BERSAMA’s Dr Aliza Che Amran and independent candidate Abu Bakar Sabudin.
Adly, a two-term assemblyman, will be seeking to retain the support that secured his previous victories.
The decision by BN to give way to PAS in the constituency also makes the contest an important test of support for the opposition parties’ respective candidates.
In Sungai Udang, Bersatu’s Major (R) Abdullah Mahadi faces BN’s Datuk Rais Yasin and BERSAMA’s Mohd Ridzuan Abdul Rahman.
The constituency has a sizeable military electorate, making the support of serving and retired personnel an important consideration for the candidates.
Rais, who previously represented Paya Rumput, is contesting the seat after moving from his former constituency.
Machap Jaya will see BN incumbent Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem face PH’s Datuk Ginie Lim Siew Lin and BERSAMA’s B. Prasanth Kumar.
The presence of a third candidate adds another variable to PH’s attempt to wrest the seat, particularly if support for its candidate is divided among competing non-BN contenders.
Duyong, meanwhile, will see BN incumbent Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abdul Halem face PH’s Poo Long Suan.
The constituency was represented by non-Malay assemblymen for much of the period between 1995 and 2018.
MCA held the seat for four terms before DAP took over for two terms, after which BN regained it in the 2021 election.
PKR deputy secretary-general Aidi Amin Yazid said the Melaka election would also provide an opportunity to assess how future political cooperation between parties could be structured.
He said the results could offer lessons on whether parties should continue contesting separately or make way for one another in constituencies where their interests overlap.
The outcome in Ayer Keroh, Kelebang and Pengkalan Batu will therefore be watched beyond the immediate battle for seats.
The results will show how voters respond when parties exploring political cooperation find themselves competing for the same support at the ballot box. – November 3, 2026
