If Pakatan Harapan wants to capture Putrajaya, we must win mixed seats like Ayer Hitam.
Electoral data for the federal seat in 2013 put Malay voters at 56%, Chinese at 38% and Indians at 4%.
In the 13th General Election, there was a 17% voter shift for the opposition. The swing was big. But a further swing is not impossible.
The opposition obtained 70% of the Chinese votes in 2013. However, in places like Gelang Patah and Kulai, DAP managed to get almost 80% of the Chinese votes while in Kluang, DAP also managed to get 78.5% of the Chinese votes.
On the other hand, the Opposition obtained 21% of the Malay votes in GE13. But in places like Kluang, Gelang Patah and Kulai, DAP all managed to get 35% of the Malay support.
It is clear that there is room for PH to improve our Malay and Chinese support in Ayer Hitam. And under the current economic and political situation, I do not think that a further swing for PH in Ayer Hitam is unrealistic.
However, it is undeniable that it will be an uphill battle for PH in Ayer Hitam. Pakatan Harapan should send its best candidate if we want to take down the MCA No. 2. And no doubt, Ayer Hitam will be national spotlight in the coming GE14.