Bersama looking to make small gains in Melaka polls, not wins

Wong Chen says Bersama's goal is to improve on its haul of votes after garnering 6% of the vote share in the Johor polls.

Wong Chen, one of Bersama’s key leaders alongside Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, acknowledged that Melaka was an Umno stronghold, Utusan Malaysia reported.

Nonetheless, the former Subang MP said the goal was to make significant improvements after each contest, adding that the Melaka polls would only be Bersama’s second “battle”.

“We aren’t expecting to win. We’re only five months old after all. But at least we have learned from our experience contesting in the Johor polls.

“In Melaka, I feel that our chances of winning are very slim. We managed to obtain 6% of the vote share in Johor; perhaps we can increase this to 12% (in Melaka).

“What’s important is that we improve. Every time we contest, we learn from it,” he was quoted as saying.

Last month, Bersama announced 15 candidates for the Melaka polls, including Dr Solehin Saleh, the brother of Umno Youth chief and now-former Merlimau assemblyman Dr Akmal Saleh.

Wong, a former PKR leader, said Bersama might sit out the Sarawak polls and focus on other state elections that may be called before the next general election (GE16).

He added that Bersama had a stronger presence in more urban areas, particularly Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, compared with Johor and Melaka. “Perhaps Johor Bahru, Penang and Ipoh, where voters are more progressive, middle-class and multiracial.”

The former three-term MP added that Bersama had set its sights on winning 10 parliamentary seats in GE16, which he believed was a realistic target.

Wong said Bersama had seen former members of PKR, Umno and even PAS joining its ranks since its launch in May.

“I feel that if we have a moderate and progressive platform with good Malay leadership, and we can grow even more. We also have a multiracial approach.

“I see this structure as appealing to the middle-class and urbanites.”