Analyst says MCA’s 2 extra seats pointless as DAP wins expected

An analyst has downplayed the two additional seats allocated to MCA for the Melaka state election, saying DAP is expected to retain the two Chinese-majority strongholds comfortably.

Wong Chin Huat of Sunway University said MCA does not hold any strategic advantage in the two seats – Kota Laksamana and Bandar Hilir – as the alliance with PAS-led Perikatan Nasional will deter Chinese voters.

“It has no chance at competing with DAP. (The partnership with) PN and PAS is the main obstacle to MCA victories in the Chinese-majority areas,” he told FMT.

Wong said MCA risked being perceived as merely riding on the coattails of the BN-PN alliance, rather than actually representing the community it seeks to serve.

He pointed out that MCA has gone from contesting seven seats in the 2021 Melaka polls to four this time around, and clashing with DAP in only two seats compared with four previously.

He said this trend could continue in other states and the 16th general election (GE16).

“MCA may be given some consolation through appointed assemblymen’s posts. But without the mandate of the voters, it has no political capital to reject policies or moves detrimental to the Chinese or non-Malay communities.

“It will only go on to be rejected even more by Chinese voters,” he said.

MCA was initially allocated the Kelebang and Machap Jaya seats it won in 2021, before protests and discussions with the BN and PN leadership resulted in the party getting Kota Laksamana and Bandar Hilir as well.

Melaka BN chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh said the BN-PN alliance agreed to allocate the two seats to MCA based on winnability.

Both seats fall under the DAP-held Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency, where Chinese voters comprised more than 70% of the electorate as of 2022, with Malays under 20%.

MCA-DAP clashes to gauge voter fatigue for DAP

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said the outcome of the contest between MCA and DAP will help gauge Chinese voter fatigue towards DAP.

He said a unified Malay vote coupled with Chinese voter fatigue would tilt the balance in MCA’s favour in Kota Laksamana and Bandar Hilir.

This voter fatigue could manifest in a low voter turnout, or Chinese voters actually choosing to support MCA, he said.

Fauzi cited the results of the Johor polls in July, when MCA won eight seats in the state assembly, including wresting three DAP strongholds.

“This was a signal from Chinese voters of their fatigue in voting for DAP, because even if DAP is in the government, the outcome is more or less the same as when DAP was in the opposition.

“In such a situation, they’re better off voting for a coalition that has a shot at leading the federal government after GE16,” he said.

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