Selangor is expected to remain in the hands of the opposition in the upcoming general election, analysts said.

This, despite BN going all out to wrest the state from the opposition, reported Channel NewsAsia.

Selangor, said the analysts, has a large pool of well-educated citizens who are sensitive to issues affecting the country as opposed to just the state.

Things that concern most Selangor voters are the rising cost of living and stagnant wages.

Apart from this, however, most voters believe that the opposition has been running the state fairly well.

As such, BN would find it difficult to win back Selangor, said Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani, an analyst with BowerGroupAsia risk consultancy.

"Although Prime Minister Najib (Abdul Razak) introduced a budget targeting the urban middle class, the increasing cost of living and stagnant wages are still a major concern for the Selangor electorate.

"The urban and semi-urban constituencies in Selangor are also in Pakatan Harapan’s favour. The economic indicators may be positive but the realities on the ground differ drastically," said Asrul.

Channel NewsAsia quoted PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli (photo) who said how the cost of living, GST and the weekly fuel prices were extremely emotive issues.

“The reason people feel the pinch is because wages have not grown in tandem with the rise of costs of living,” said Rafizi.

Citing surveys conducted by PKR based on the same basket of goods used by the government, Rafizi said inflation has been averaging five percent per annum.

Meanwhile, opinion research firm Merdeka Center said the opposition coalition stands a chance of retaining Selangor as it has run the state "reasonably well".

“I think the opposition has the potential to retain Selangor in the coming general elections despite possible multi-cornered contests and changes in electoral boundaries,” said Merdeka Center executive director Ibrahim Suffian.

This is due to Selangor's multiracial composition and its higher alternative media penetration.

"In addition, opposition presence is fairly strong. They have run the state reasonably well for the past decade and shown to be competent to manage a complex state."

While the opposition has been wracked by infighting, it is still confident that it can keep Selangor.

“Pakatan Harapan may not be as strong before. But then again, neither is BN,” said A Kadir Jasin (photo), a member of Bersatu's supreme leadership council.

DAP, meanwhile, is “cautiously optimistic” it can keep Selangor as Umno "has weak leadership" in the state.

“There is no one from Umno who can match the stature of Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali," said DAP central executive committee member Liew Chin Tong.

“Umno in Selangor has been factionalised for a long time…they have not been able to command 100 percent support of the Malays."