MELAKA, Nov 14 — Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) have stormed to an emphatic two-thirds supermajority in the Melaka state election, capturing a combined 24 of the 28 state assembly seats, according to unofficial results tonight.
In a sweeping victory that consolidated the ruling coalition’s regional dominance, BN triumphed in 21 constituencies on its own, matching its 2021 seat benchmark, while PN captured three seats.
The joint tally of 24 seats represents one more than the two coalitions achieved when contesting separately five years ago, decimating Pakatan Harapan (PH) to just four urban enclaves.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi thanked voters across the state for delivering a resounding mandate, while Amanah leader Adly Zahari conceded defeat on behalf of PH, stating that the coalition would focus on rebuilding its grassroots strength.
Incumbent Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh secured an unassailable mandate to remain at the helm of the state administration, retaining his Tanjung Bidara seat with an unofficial majority of 8,650 votes, an exponential increase from the razor-thin 364-vote margin he secured in 2021.
BN also registered runaway majorities across rural and semi-urban bastions, led by a 12,036-vote cushion in Sungai Udang, which it successfully wrested back from PN, and 11,742 votes in Serkam.
BN’s closest battle unfolded in Machap Jaya, where it held off a determined charge from PH’s Ginie Lim by 1,925 votes after trailing in early ballot boxes.
PH suffered major political casualties across the state, losing former chief minister Adly in his Bukit Katil backyard to PN’s Ridzuan Sarif.
The federal ruling pact took another severe hit in Paya Rumput, where Azman Abidin, political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was ousted by PN.
PH was ultimately reduced to its four traditional urban Chinese-majority strongholds of Kesidang, Ayer Keroh, Kota Laksamana, and Bandar Hilir, each retained by DAP with comfortable margins surpassing 5,000 votes as MCA failed to reclaim lost ground.
PN’s three victories were swept entirely by PAS-affiliated candidates, who retained Bemban while capturing Bukit Katil and Paya Rumput out of the five seats allocated to the coalition.
Conversely, Bersatu suffered a humiliating statewide wipeout after fielding candidates in seven seats under its own logo following an acrimonious split with PAS. The party was dismantled in Sungai Udang, where its candidate polled just 1,522 votes against the winner’s 13,558, with its best showing in Pantai Kundor still leaving Dr Asmah Samat trailing BN’s Tuminah Kadi by 2,177 votes.
Newcomer Parti Bersama Malaysia again failed to win any of the seats it contested, while independent contenders were similarly shut out.