MELAKA: Pakatan Harapan can capture at least 18 out of the 28 seats in the state legislative assembly, claims state PKR chief Halim Bachik.

       He said PKR was aiming to win a minimum of six seats and hoped to grab as many as nine out of the 11 it was contesting.

       “This is based on the response from people on the ground and despite the strict campaign restrictions.

       “When I went down to the ground, the latest being in Sungai Rambai, the people’s reaction has been good and they told us that they did not want this forced election,” he told a press conference yesterday.

       Pakatan is contesting all 28 seats, with PKR’s fellow component parties Parti Amanah Negara putting up nine candidates and DAP eight.

       Halim also said fielding former Umno chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron was an advantage to Pakatan.

       “As a former chief minister, he has made some good contributions, so for me, this is not an issue.

       “Actually, it will attract Umno voters to vote for Pakatan,” he added.

       Idris was chief minister from May 2013 to May 2018.

       The election is being held following the dissolution of the state assembly after Idris and three other assemblymen withdrew their support for former chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.