The quaint countryside constituency of Alor Gajah was a BN stronghold in Malacca for 44 years until Pakatan Harapan seized it in 2018 through Bersatu’s Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.

Speculation is rife that BN may give the seat back to Umno after letting MCA contest there since 2004, with Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan touted as a possible candidate.

But despite the coalition's longstanding history in the constituency, a straw poll by Malaysiakini among voters in Alor Gajah town - some 30 minutes away from central Malacca - suggested that BN may find recapturing the seat a difficult task.

Fence sitters appear to be deciding between Perikatan Nasional (PN) - whom Redzuan is now a member of - and Harapan as their top choice for the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).

This was especially apparent among...