Melaka polls can’t be benchmark for GE16, says analyst

Former Umno leader Puad Zarkashi had said that major players like BN, PH and PN appeared to be struggling to agree on alliances for the Melaka state election.

PETALING JAYA: An analyst has expressed disagreement with a former MP's call for parties to go solo in the Nov 14 Melaka polls to gauge their strength before the next general election (GE16).

Azmi Hassan.

Akademi Nusantara's Azmi Hassan said the state election, involving 28 seats, would not be an accurate benchmark for GE16 as it would not reflect parties' support at the national level.

A low voter turnout would render the Melaka polls' results all the more irrelevant to GE16 planning, he added.

"Therefore, using Melaka as a yardstick (for GE16) would be unrealistic," he told FMT.