MELAKA: Contestants in the Melaka election continue to woo constituents and fence-sitters as campaigning reaches its final lap before ballots are cast tomorrow.

       All three political coalitions – Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan – claim to have the advantage.

       Barisan’s Bemban candidate Datuk Koh Chin Han’s campaign trail is stretching until midnight at the tail-end, but he is enjoying every moment meeting his constituents.

       “I am trying to cover as many places as I can in the last few hours to listen to their needs,” he said.

       Independent candidate for Bemban Datuk Ng Choon Koon said he has also been overwhelmed with visitors who have come to his operation centre at Jasin to seek help on housing matters.

       “My schedule is getting tighter, especially with home purchasers coming to seek my help on matters relating to the incompetency of certain developers,” said Ng, who is also the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Melaka chapter chairman.

       Taboh Naning’s Pakatan candidate Zairi Suboh said he is going around appealing to constituents to cast their ballots.

       “It’s most crucial for us to remind voters to come out in the last few hours before polling day.

       “I have focused on a ceramah blitz since last week and I am now going around asking voters to come out,” he said.

       Barisan candidate for Merlimau Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh is slugging it out in a final push for votes by concentrating on elderly constituents who are not Internet-savvy.

       “I need to apply the conventional method of face-to-face meetings (with senior voters) and I have to complete this task in another few hours,” he said.

       Independent candidate for Bandar Hilir Mak Chee Kin said he is using the last few hours to tell constituents of the achievements of his non-governmental organisation in resolving various issues over the years.

       “I want to also tell constituents that they should cast their ballots based on those who have served them even without being an assemblyman, and not by deciding the fate of the state by being influenced by propaganda spread by political coalitions,” he said.

       Datuk Seri Gan Peng Lam, the Ayer Keroh candidate contesting under the Perikatan banner, said he still has unfinished tasks even though he has only a few hours left to campaign.

       “I need to reach out to constituents as I consider myself an underdog and I am contesting against heavyweights,” he said.

       A Barisan election war-room official who requested anonymity said the coalition is gaining favourable support despite a smear campaign against its candidates over the sand reclamation issue.

       He said locals are aware that the sand reclamation issue is a long-standing one and that similar projects were also issued during Pakatan’s administration of the state.

       “People are aware of the propaganda video circulated and it wouldn’t be surprising if one urban and four other state seats return to our fold,” he said.

       However, a spokesman from Pakatan’s campaign claimed the coalition is heading towards forming the next state government based on sentiments after nomination day.

       “We can gauge the support from the grassroots and have even made inroads into Barisan’s stronghold,” he said.

       Datuk Samad Majid, a political analyst in the war-room of an alliance of Independent candidates, said no coalition could claim they are leading in the race.

       “It’s still premature to gauge the outcome based on the support garnered during the campaigning period,” he said.

       Samad, who has 40 years’ experience covering political issues while serving a broadcasting station, said voters would go for personalities in this election and not be swayed by promises made by political coalitions.