Barisan Nasional will keep its current seat distribution formula for the next state and general elections, says chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) will maintain the existing seat distribution formula to face the upcoming state elections and general election (GE), said its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir would be tasked with examining the need to make adjustments or increase the number of seats for coalition partners, including ‘Friends of BN’.
“We want to prove that our togetherness all this time can be translated into the form of seat distribution that is suitable for them,” he said at a press conference after officiating the 46th KIMMA Annual General Meeting at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) today.
Also present were Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, KIMMA president Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Kader, senior leaders of component parties, friends of BN, as well as 938 delegates involving 95 divisions from across the country.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the BN machinery needs to start actively attracting support from outside voters since support from component party members alone is not enough to guarantee a candidate’s victory.
“We are aware that support from component party members alone is not enough to win the election. Therefore, the machinery needs to start attracting support from voters who are not members of any component party,” he said.
Touching on MIC’s position in the coalition, he stressed that the party remains a core BN party and has never officially expressed its intention to leave.
“Although there is a letter linked to Perikatan Nasional, MIC denies that they have ever applied to join the party,” he said.
Commenting on Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan’s suggestion that the Johor and Melaka state elections be postponed until the economy stabilises and the oil price volatility ends, Ahmad Zahid stressed that the matter was just a personal view.
“That is his personal view and not the official stance of UMNO or Barisan Nasional,” he said.
Previously, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the Melaka State Government’s term of office would end on Nov 30, 2026, to give way to the state’s election.