Melaka polls: Adly admits Bukit Katil 'a challenge', defends performance amid criticism

MELAKA: State Pakatan Harapan chairman Adly Zahari has acknowledged that retaining the Bukit Katil seat would be challenging due to the cooperation between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.

Adly said the BN-PN cooperation put him at a disadvantage on paper, but he remained confident that his track record and work in the constituency would count in his favour.

He said voters should assess his performance based on the initiatives and development projects delivered during his tenure, rather than political alignments alone.

"I do not deny that, with the existing BN-PN combination, I am in a rather challenging position when it comes to winning.

"But elections are not decided on paper. Ultimately, it depends on the people," he said in a podcast interview with BH Online.

Addressing criticism over his attendance in the constituency due to his responsibilities as Alor Gajah member of parliament and deputy defence minister, Adly said he continued to monitor the initiatives undertaken in Bukit Katil.

He said Bukit Katil had also benefited from development projects channelled through the Defence Ministry's Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) programme.

The programme, he said, involved members of the armed forces using their technical and engineering expertise to carry out community development projects.

He said the projects were planned earlier in the year and were not introduced specifically for the election campaign.

Among the other ongoing and completed initiatives were the construction works to improve schools, public facilities and surau.

"I may have less time, but I have more budget to make up for it.

"If people say I am often not around, they should also remember that I have brought more funding to Bukit Katil compared with other assemblymen," he said.

Adly, however, acknowledged that not all requests from residents had been fulfilled.

Among them was a flooding issue in Balai Panjang involving three to four houses, which would require land acquisition before drainage improvements could be carried out.

"Perhaps in the next term, we can manage the land acquisition and improve the drainage system," he said.

Voters should consider both the initiatives delivered and the outstanding issues when evaluating his performance, said Adly.

He said PH would continue to focus on offering voters the best possible service, adding that the outcome of the election would ultimately depend on public support.