NewzDAP's Kerk Chee Yee said parties in PH should keep seat arrangements for the state polls behind closed doors, after PKR's Azman Abidin said his party is eyeing the DAP stronghold of Ayer Keroh.PETALING JAYA: A Melaka DAP leader is puzzled by a PKR leader laying claim to the seat of Ayer Keroh – a DAP stronghold – for the Nov 14 polls in Melaka.Kerk Chee Yee, who was Ayer Keroh assemblyman from 2018 until the legislature's dissolution last month, said seat negotiations within Melaka Pakatan Harapan (PH) were completed some time ago."I don’t know what lies behind the statement. Ayer Keroh is among the eight seats allocated to DAP to contest, pending the announcement of candidates."I would also like to urge all parties (in PH) to keep seat arrangements or their ‘wishlist’ behind closed doors, as there are other issues that better serve the public interest that should be discussed publicly," he told FMT.On Sunday, PKR's Azman Abidin said the party was eyeing eight to nine seats in the Melaka polls, including Ayer Keroh.It has been speculated that Azman, the federal territories PKR chief, will be fielded in Paya Rumput.When contacted, he confirmed that Ayer Keroh was among the seats targeted by PKR, though he said "there might be changes".DAP wrested Ayer Keroh from Barisan Nasional in 2008 through Khoo Poay Tiong, the current Melaka DAP chief, who was elected to a second term in 2013.Kerk was elected Ayer Keroh assemblyman in 2018 and helped PH retain the seat in the 2021 Melaka polls, winning with a majority of 5,624 votes against candidates from Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional. In the 2021 Melaka polls, BN won 21 seats while PH took five and PN two.PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) could defend the 21 seats it secured in the 2021 Melaka election and add three to four more in the state assembly, says analyst Ong Kian Ming.The former DAP leader said his projection was based on the sentiments and momentum that BN was enjoying.
He also foresaw the Umno-led coalition wresting one or two seats from Pakatan Harapan (PH).He said the two PH constituencies that could fall were former chief minister Adly Zahari's Bukit Katil seat and the DAP stronghold of Ayer Keroh, Berita Harian reported."There is a possibility that BN could increase its haul of seats from 21 to 24 or 25, because I expect BN to work with PAS."I don't think BN would wrest all five of PH's seats, but one or two will fall to BN. Adly's seat and possibly Ayer Keroh. I think these two seats are in a very dangerous position for PH," he said.Ong said BN would benefit from the absence of a consistent narrative from PH, particularly regarding the topic of pacts with other parties.He said PKR and Amanah had voiced their intention of continuing to work with BN, but DAP appeared insistent on the coalition going solo.These contradictory stands would only confuse voters, he said.Melaka voters go to the polls on Nov 14.
No alliances have been confirmed yet for the state election.In the 2021 Melaka polls, BN won 21 seats while PH took five and Perikatan Nasional two. However, one Umno assemblyman – Jailani Khamis (Rembia) – defected to PAS before the state's anti-hopping law came into effect.
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