Bersama aims for 15% voter support in Melaka polls

Bersama is aiming for up to 15% of voter support in the upcoming Melaka state election, its leader, Rafizi Ramli, said.

Rafizi described the target as an important step towards achieving 20% national support in the next general election (GE16).

At a 2026 Merdeka Night event here yesterday, he said this could be achieved through a political rebranding strategy based on digital efficiency, strong grassroots service, and a party structure without a “traditional command hierarchy”, where authority flows from leaders at the top down to workers at the bottom.

He said the increase in support from 3% to 6% in the recent Johor election showed that Bersama had the potential to become a “hyperscaler” in the country’s political landscape.

“If we can surpass 15% in Melaka and approach 20% nationally, Bersama will automatically become a kingmaker on par with major coalitions such as Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional,” he said.

“Fence-sitters, who make up more than 30% of the electorate, will see us as the main alternative when they are fed up with political compromises and coalition switches at the top.”

Rafizi also said Bersama had received about 300 applications from individuals interested in becoming candidates in Selangor and the Federal Territories.

He said the screening process was under way based on strict internal guidelines, before the official list was announced.

“We have to look at them one by one and, after coming up with a shortlist, we will interview them, and only then can we decide on their suitabilty (as candidates),” he said.

On Aug 15, Bersama co-leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad unveiled the party’s candidates for the 15 seats it will be contesting in the Melaka election.

The election is due by late February 2027, but chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh has reportedly said they could be held as early as next month.