Melaka PKR chief Halim Bachik said people on the ground “seem to be accepting Pakatan Harapan” as Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional were grappling for power in the state despite being in the same federal government.

“It is not impossible for us to win all our seats. We will focus on the people in our election campaign,” he told a press conference here today.

PKR’s allies Amanah will contest nine seats and DAP eight in the 28 seats up for grabs on Saturday.

Halim said PH had been going to the ground in Lendu since the state government was toppled in March 2020.

He said there had been positive news from the voters there as the PKR candidate, Mohamad Asri Ibrahim, a former civil servant and a National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) officer, would visit the constituency regularly.

“Since Sulaiman only had a majority of 627 votes in the last election, we are confident that we have a chance to win the seat,” he said.

Asri, Sulaiman and Bersatu’s Abdullah Mahadi will face-off for the Lendu seat.

PKR will also be contesting in Tanjung Bidara, Rembia, Machap Jaya, Asahan, Sungai Udang, Paya Rumput, Kelebang, Ayer Molek, Rim and Sungai Rambai.

Halim also unveiled PH’s job opportunity scheme, which includes a Melaka job search programme known as Career@Melaka, to increase employment opportunities in the state.

To further strengthen Melaka’s economic sector, he said, PH would provide a discount on business licence fees for 2022 as well as provide an easy loan of up to RM5,000 for women entrepreneurs.

He also said PH would introduce a rehabilitation and tourism sector fund to help the travel sector to recover.

“To ensure the economic stability of Melaka, various economic efforts will be pursued such as making Melaka a key location for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) activities.

“Exploration of new industries such as green energy, ports and cruises, the digital and gig economy as well as smart cities is expected to generate 10,000 new jobs,” he said.