PH learnt lesson on being loud in campaigns, says Saifuddin

Pakatan Harapan will advocate a peaceful campaign for the Melaka state elections, having learnt its lesson that winning is not about who is the loudest, but who is the most trusted.

PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail described the state election as a “festival of democracy” and said the coalition would promote respect for differing opinions in politics.

However, he said PH draws the line at hate politics, divisive rhetoric and any attempt to advance one community’s interests at the expense of another.

“We will promote a peaceful campaign. We have realised that victory in an election campaign is not measured by which side is the loudest, but by who is the most trusted,” he said at a media briefing following the Melaka polls nomination process today.

Saifuddin’s remarks come as PH enters its fourth state election campaign of the year, following polls in Sabah, Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

In Johor, PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim campaigned aggressively, repeatedly attacking political rivals and often singling out menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi. This drew criticism that a sitting prime minister should not campaign like an opposition leader.

In Negeri Sembilan, PH leaders initially sought to blame Umno’s withdrawal of support for the state government for triggering the state election, but the message failed to gain traction.

PH is contesting 24 seats in the Melaka state election, with PKR fielding 10 candidates, while DAP and Amanah are contesting seven each.

Separately, acting Melaka PKR chief Adam Adli, who was also at the media briefing, rejected allegations that PH had sought to disrupt other parties’ campaign preparations.

He also defended the coalition’s younger candidates, including those from the Gen Z and millennial generation, who had faced personal attacks.

“We regard this as an extremely unproductive attitude, particularly when we are trying to develop, build confidence in and give young people opportunities to lead our society.

“We hope voters, particularly young voters, will take the time to assess what is being offered, especially by the younger candidates we are fielding in this election,” he said.

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