Ayer Hitam, a BN stronghold-parliamentary seat in Johor, has now become a barometer for Pakatan Harapan to take Putrajaya and Johor in the coming general election, said DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

"If we can win Ayer Hitam, we can win Johor and federal (government)," he said when officiating Pakatan Harapan's election center at Ayer Hitam.

"That's why Ayer Hitam is so important. But it is not easy to win, it is very tough," he said.

"Last year, I spoke that 10 percent Malay votes and five percent non-Malay votes against BN would enable us to win 113 parliamentary seats in the peninsula.

"But in the case of Ayer Hitam seat, we would need at least a 15 percent swing in Malay votes and 10 percent of non-Malay votes," he said.

The current MP for the Malay-majority Ayer Hitam is MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong.

It was reported that Harapan has allocated Ayer Hitam for DAP, which has agreed to allow an Amanah candidate to contest under DAP's ticket.

However, it was recently speculated that DAP wanted to field its own candidate at the seat. 

When contacted, Amanah central leader Hu Pang Chaw said the party was still negotiating with Harapan to have its candidate fielded in Ayer Hitam, and that the coalition will make a decision on the matter. 

Johor Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan, who attended the opening ceremony, said the party was conducting a research on the ground, particularly in Malay areas, to see who the voters would prefer as their candidate. 

"We will provide the best opinion on the candidate and party logo," he said.

The party has obtained feedback from the people in Ayer Hitam and will later present it to the party, he said.

Two questions were posed to the voters, namely if they want a Malay candidate, or a Chinese candidate, as well as the party logo preferred by the voters, according to the Parit Yaani state assemblyperson.

He also opined that the coalition should field a candidate who resides in Ayer Hitam to contest the seat.