KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional's (BN) inclusive approach has worked well to consolidate support among the grassroots and woo fence-sitting voters in the Melaka polls recently.
Political and legal expert Professor Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod said BN's election campaign and manifesto clearly reflected the "Keluarga Malaysia" vision that was coined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
"The main thrust of BN's campaign that focused on economic recovery and the people's welfare struck a chord with voters in Melaka.
"While the opposition attempted to push across similar messages, the voters had more confidence in BN to translate those plans into action.
"The 'Keluarga Malaysia' vision that emphasises inclusiveness played a key role in attracting grassroots supporters and fence-sitting voters to favour BN," he told the New Straits Times.
Melaka voters, he said, swayed towards BN as they felt that the coalition could guarantee political stability for them.
This, he said, was due to the coalition's willingness to work with its political rivals at the federal level.
"The stability of the federal government was brought forward by BN's willingness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with opposition parties.
"I believe this move also encouraged the people of Melaka to vote for BN," he said.
Political analyst Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia also echoed similar views, citing political stability as a key factor that contributed to BN's victory in Melaka.
"For Melaka voters, a stable government was more pertinent as a continuous turmoil in the state has resulted in political fatigue.
"Policies and initiatives such as the 12th Malaysia Plan, the 'Keluarga Malaysia' vision, and the 2022 Budget would have promised political stability to them," he said.
Sivamurugan said BN was in a better position to implement the policies and manifesto pledged to Melaka voters since they now helmed both the state and federal governments.
"A good working relationship between federal and state governments is important to strengthen the implementation of policies and election manifestos.
"With BN leading both the state and federal leadership, it should draw up short-, middle- and long-term plans to implement its promises so that they can retain the trust and confidence of voters," he said.
Meanwhile, #UndiRabu team co-founder Alzari Mahshar, 51, said BN's victory could be attributed to the people's hopes for stability and their rejection of unprincipled political moves by Pakatan Harapan (PH).
During the Melaka election, Alzari launched a crowdfunding initiative called #baliklerhawau to provide financial assistance to needy voters to return home to cast their ballots.
"BN was equipped with a better machinery that was able to adapt to campaigning under the new normal without house-to-house visits or physical ceramah.
"Furthermore, I feel voters were repelled by the uncertainties that arose during the short-lived PH leadership in the state.
"Malaysian voters are also sensitive when it comes to principles. So, I feel the decision by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) to allow 'political leapfrogs' to contest under the PH banner has further frustrated them.
"Therefore, all state assemblymen must deliver on the pledges they made to their constituents during the election to retain their voters' confidence," he said.
Adnan Haron, 39, who recently voted in the polls, said the people in Melaka favoured BN due to its proven and long-standing track-record in leading the country.
"Due to the PH leadership's poor performance in the past and Perikatan Nasional (PN) being a relatively new coalition, I feel people here felt comfortable with BN.
"Based on BN's track-record, the leadership often provided solutions to almost all the local issues faced by residents here. Hopefully, the new state government's executive committee can formulate comprehensive policies and live up to our expectations," he said.
The Melaka polls on Saturday resulted in a landslide victory for BN after the coalition clinched 21 out of the 28 seats. PH and PN won five and two seats, respectively. Lendu assemblyman Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali was subsequently sworn in as the state's 13th chief minister.