Shahril leans into his Chinese side in bid to secure non-Malay votes

GE15 | There’s a place in Machap Baru, Malacca known as ‘Meihua Walk’ or Plum Blossom street which is lined with thousands of red lanterns during Chinese New Year, where many Malaysians flock to enjoy the festivities.

BN’s Alor Gajah candidate Shahril Sufian Hamdan aims to elevate the area’s popularity to an international level and some voters there also want Shahril to be around often as well - as their MP.

“Once you are YB (yang berhormat - an honorific for elected representatives) come visit lah,” said a Machap Baru voter during Shahril’s visit to the street on Tuesday.

Machap Baru is a small town in Alor Gajah that has deep MCA roots, with even a nearby recreational park named after five-term Malacca assemblyperson Poh Ah Tiam, who served in three constituencies from 1986 to 2007.

However, the predominantly Chinese community’s loyalty to MCA fractured in 2018, where...