Melaka polls: PH banks on Gen Z support for younger candidates

MELAKA: Pakatan Harapan is banking on young voters, particularly first-time voters and Generation Z (Gen Z), to support its younger candidates in the Melaka election.

Melaka DAP chairman Khoo Poay Tiong said the coalition's decision to field young candidates, including those from Gen Z, reflected its longstanding commitment to youth development and political participation.

He said PH had demonstrated this commitment by lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 during its tenure in the federal government.

"We hope the younger generation, particularly first-time voters and Gen Z, will give their full support to the young candidates fielded by PH.

"Give them an opportunity to serve and become the voice representing the aspirations of young people in their respective constituencies," he said when met after PH's daily press conference here today.

On the campaign, which entered its third day today, Khoo said support for PH was gaining momentum, citing encouraging feedback from voters during campaign activities.

He said the coalition's election machinery was operating smoothly, with all its main operations centres in the 24 state constituencies contested by PH now fully operational.

"All our main operations centres in the 24 state seats are fully operational, and our election machinery is running smoothly to ensure campaign information reaches voters.

"Our main priority now is to ensure comprehensive outreach so that voters are well-informed and turn out in large numbers to fulfil their responsibility," he said.

On the contests in PH strongholds Kota Laksamana and Bandar Hilir, Khoo said the coalition was not taking its opponents, including MCA, lightly.

He said PH's election machinery would work hard to defend both seats, prioritising face-to-face engagement with voters rather than relying solely on physical campaign materials.

"We must be prepared to face any challenge and any opponent.

"Regardless of who contests these constituencies, we will do our best to secure the people's support and defend both seats," he said.

PH is targeting victory in 18 of the 24 seats it is contesting in the state election, including retaining the five seats it won in the previous election.

Of the 24 candidates fielded by the coalition, PKR is contesting 10 seats, while DAP and Amanah are fielding seven candidates each.