MELAKA: Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional could win as many as 25 of the 28 seats contested in the Melaka election on Saturday, Datuk Seri Dr Ab Rauf Yusoh said.
The Melaka BN chairman said the prediction was based on the current political climate, including internal problems within Pakatan Harapan, which he believed could work in favour of the two coalitions.
Without naming the seats they could win, Ab Rauf said BN was targeting at least 21 seats, with support from its allies potentially pushing the combined tally to 25.
“Looking at the current political climate, I believe that amid the political confusion, including internal problems within Pakatan Harapan, we could possibly win 25 of the 28 seats.
“We hope to win 21 seats, and with contributions from our allies, we could reach 25 seats,” he said when addressing a meet-and-greet programme between the Chief Minister and BN election machinery for Taboh Naning seat here today.
Also present was BN candidate for Taboh Naning, Datuk Zulkiflee Mohd Zin.
Ab Rauf added that public dissatisfaction over recent political developments could also influence the election outcome.
He said the people had been expressing their dissatisfaction over certain actions taken by the opposing side, which he claimed appeared to disregard decisions made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“We have seen how the people have taken the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction over certain recent developments and actions taken by the other side, which appear to disregard decisions made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“If the people believe we are the best choice, then they should choose the best option for the common good,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ab Rauf expressed confidence that BN could secure the Taboh Naning seat, citing the close cooperation between the election machinery of BN and PN.
“I believe the combination of the election machinery of BN and our PN allies has given us strong confidence that, Taboh Naning will contribute one seat on the 14th,” he said.
Zulkiflee is in the straight against Pakatan Harapan candidate Junainah Sahat in the contest in Taboh Naning. In the 2021 state election, Zulkiflee won the seat after he obtained a majority votes of 1,825.