BERSAMA and Bersatu have failed to win a single seat in the Melaka state election, dealing a blow to both parties as they attempt to strengthen their political standing ahead of the next general election.
The outcome is particularly disappointing for Bersama, which contested 16 constituencies but failed to convert its participation into electoral success.
The latest setback follows a similar performance in Johor in July, where the party also drew a blank despite fielding candidates in 15 seats.
Its strongest showing in Melaka came in Bemban, where candidate Dr Muhammad Solehin Saleh secured more than 3,000 votes but was unable to overcome Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Dr Yadzil Yaakub, according to unofficial results.
Bersama had entered the election seeking to position itself as an alternative for voters, particularly in urban and suburban areas traditionally associated with support for Pakatan Harapan (PH).
This strategy brought the party into direct competition with PH in 14 constituencies, including all five seats the coalition captured in the 2021 state election — Ayer Keroh, Bukit Katil, Kesidang, Kota Laksamana and Bandar Hilir.
However, the approach failed to produce the electoral breakthrough needed to establish Bersama as a serious challenger to the established political parties.
Its performance in Bukit Katil was another indication of the difficulties it faced. Despite PH being on course to lose the constituency to PN, Bersama failed to make a significant impact in the contest.
Ahead of polling, the party had sought to manage expectations. One of its prominent leaders, Wong Chen, said Bersama was aiming to capture 12% of the popular vote in Melaka, compared with the 6% it secured in Johor.
The party is already setting its sights on the next general election, where it hopes to contest up to 20 parliamentary constituencies. The election must be held by early 2028.
However, its latest performance raises questions about whether it can develop the grassroots support and electoral influence needed to make those ambitions realistic.
For Bersatu, the failure to win any of the seven constituencies it contested presents a different political challenge.
Led by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the party entered the election without the support of its usual PN ally, PAS, following a deterioration in relations between the two parties.
Bersatu fielded candidates in Lendu, Sungai Udang, Pantai Kundor, Klebang, Pengkalan Batu, Ayer Keroh and Bemban.
Among its candidates was former deputy Senate president Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad, who contested in Klebang.
Bersatu’s decision to challenge PH in three constituencies — Ayer Keroh, Klebang and Pengkalan Batu — also attracted attention, particularly given the parties’ previous electoral cooperation.
The contests raised the prospect of competing for Malay voters and potentially influencing the balance of support in those constituencies.
However, the outcome suggests that Bersatu was unable to turn this strategy into a meaningful electoral advantage.
DAP is on course to retain Ayer Keroh, while BN appears set to capture both Klebang and Pengkalan Batu.
In the other constituencies, Bersatu also struggled to mount a serious challenge against its rivals, with its candidates unable to translate their presence on the ballot into victories.
Although a greater number of its candidates appear likely to retain their election deposits compared with the Negeri Sembilan polls, where only one candidate met the required threshold, this offers limited consolation for a party that has again failed to secure representation.
The setback comes at a challenging time for Bersatu, with uncertainty surrounding its relationship with PAS raising questions about its future within the opposition coalition ahead of the next general election.
Muhyiddin’s party has indicated its willingness to explore cooperation with other political groups, including PH. However, any attempt to revive ties with the coalition it previously governed alongside would face considerable obstacles.
DAP leaders, in particular, have expressed strong reservations about such a possibility, reflecting lingering distrust following the political upheaval of February 2020.
The Sheraton Move, which led to the collapse of the PH government less than two years after its historic victory in the 2018 general election, remains a major source of tension between the former allies.
The political manoeuvre involving Muhyiddin and former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali fundamentally altered the country’s political landscape and left lasting divisions among the parties involved.
For Bersama and Bersatu, the Melaka election has therefore delivered more than just a disappointing set of results, although the implications for each party are markedly different.
Bersama now faces the challenge of demonstrating that it can build a genuine support base rather than simply field candidates in constituencies dominated by established political forces.
Bersatu, meanwhile, must reassess its political direction, restore its electoral appeal and determine how it can remain relevant without the backing of former allies.
With the next general election drawing closer, both parties face mounting pressure to address their weaknesses and rebuild their standing. Another electoral setback could make their respective political ambitions considerably harder to achieve.
