Analysts See Internal Rift in Pakatan Harapan Over Melaka State Election Alliances

Conflicting positions among Pakatan Harapan’s component parties over whether to contest the upcoming Melaka state election alone or form electoral pacts have drawn scrutiny from political analysts, who warn the disagreements could undermine the coalition’s unity at the polls.

Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia said PH’s central leadership would need to manage the divergent views carefully, noting that some components appeared set on contesting independently while others favoured forming pacts with outside parties.

Melaka DAP chief Khoo Poay Tiong announced on Wednesday that PH would contest the Melaka state election on its own, with no alliance struck with either Bersatu or any other coalition. Khoo, who also serves as Melaka PH deputy chairman, said all three component parties had agreed at the state level to go it alone, and that the state chapter would present its position to the coalition’s central leadership for feedback.

DAP’s Objection to Bersatu Cooperation

Syaza said DAP in particular appeared firm on the go-solo approach, and unlike its coalition partners was opposed to any pact with Bersatu. She noted that Melaka DAP’s leaders had not attended a recent dinner between state PKR, Amanah and Bersatu leaders, which had fuelled speculation about potential electoral cooperation.

Syaza attributed DAP’s reluctance to work with Bersatu to a matter of principle, citing the role that the party and its current leadership — particularly president Muhyiddin Yassin and secretary-general Azmin Ali — played in the collapse of the PH-led federal government in 2020.

She said many PH grassroots members and supporters would find it difficult to accept any cooperation with Bersatu, while the central leadership would be expected to respect the stand taken by the state chapter. “These differences could prevent PH from presenting a united front for the state election, but I believe the central PH leadership can resolve them,” she said.

The picture was further complicated by statements from other PH figures that appeared to contradict Khoo’s announcement. Central Amanah leader Khalid Samad had previously said PH was open to working with any party except Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional in the Melaka polls. PH election director Amirudin Shari and state Amanah chief Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat subsequently dismissed that statement as Khalid’s personal view.

Separately, Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari had said the coalition was in the final stages of discussions to form a “PH Plus” alliance with other parties, including Bersatu.

Strategic Differences or Something Deeper?

Not all analysts read the situation as a sign of serious division. Shafezah Abdul Wahab of Universiti Teknologi Mara described PH’s differing positions as strategic differences rather than a fundamental rift, and said she did not expect them to escalate into a broader split.

Shafezah said the state leadership would naturally be more familiar with Melaka’s political landscape and voter sentiments, while the central leadership would be weighing considerations related to the next general election. “The question is how much room would the central leadership give Melaka PH to decide on the strategies for the state polls,” she said.