AFTER running down the UMNO – PAS collaboration recently, BERSAMA co – leader Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli targeted UMNO and its coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN) in Melaka.
He spoke specifically on two issues – the state’s economic growth and BN’s promise to provide free water for the people. The free water pledge is in the manifesto.
BN recently countered BERSAMA’s claim that there were too many incomplete projects in the Melaka by claiming that the state recorded good economic performance.
Free water was first introduced in Selangor during the administration of then Menteri Besar, the late Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
The former economy minister pointed out that even the people of Selangor do not hear anything regarding free water because it is too expensive. Hence the question arises, how is BN in Melaka going to provide free water when the current water bill saw a 50% hike since 2024.
The public would still end up paying for it, not Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh who was also the Chief Minister.
Rafizi was telling this while campaigning for B Prasanth Kumar, Bersama’s candidate in Machap Jaya.
He explained that the state revenue is basically derived from land premiums amounting to RM500 mil annually even though there is not much land. So, the state government increases the tax ratio as well as the payment to renew the 99 – year land lease.
PKR’s former deputy president highlighted the fact that the BN state government was silent on the state’s economic performance. He revealed that the state’s economic performance was always behind the national growth percentage.
Comparing Melaka and national growth
In 2023, national growth was 3.8% and Melaka managed 2.9 %. In 2024, national growth was 5.2% but Melaka achieved only 4%. In 2025 the national economic growth growth was 5.2% but Melaka, 3%.
It is to the point that the Melaka people are worried whenever there are abandoned projects.
The former Pandan lawmaker pointed out that Melaka’s economic growth was lagging due to almost stagnant growth of the manufacturing and construction sector.
In 2025, the national manufacturing sector grew by 5.5% but it was only 1.1% in Melaka as if there were no new factories set up in the state.
In the construction sector Malaysia recorded a 12.9% growth in the same year but Melaka had merely 4.8% growth. This was because of a high number of abandoned projects and land scarcity.
When they do have projects, it is done on landfills that is meant for outsiders at a high price.
Rafizi also told Machap Jaya voters that they would get three representatives if they made Prasanth as their elected rep
MCA’s representative would be the state constituency coordinator and PKR’s candidate would be the coordinator of Machap Jaya for the federal government.
MCA’s candidate is Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem, the incumbent state assemblyman whereas PKR fielded its former representative Datuk Ginie Lim Siew Lin. – Nov 10, 2026
Main image credit: Youtube/ Rafizi Ramli
