Zahid Hopes BN Can Retain Mahkota Seat

BAGAN DATUK, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hopes that the winning momentum achieved by the party in Nenggiri will enable it to retain the Mahkota state seat in Johor on Sept 28.

"In Mahkota, we (BN) won by a majority of 5,200 votes. In Nenggiri, we previously lost by 810 votes. We are striving and praying to Allah that we can retain this constituency (Mahkota)," said Ahmad Zahid, who is also UMNO president.

The Deputy Prime Minister told the media this after performing the groundbreaking ceremony for the Simpang Tiga RPT Area Development Project (PPK) here today.

Ahmad Zahid said a wind of change has occurred in Kelantan following BN's recapture of Nenggiri in last Saturday's by-election.

"Without intending to be arrogant or boastful, we believe that if there are external elements claiming that UMNO is no longer relevant, the results in Nenggiri show otherwise.

"Because we know that Kelantan has been governed for at least three decades by a party that promises heaven but fails to solve basic problems," he said.

Ahmad Zahid also said the Nenggiri win was not just about redeeming UMNO's honour in Gua Musang but also about sending a message that the party could regain support if it countered allegations hurled against BN and UMNO.

Commenting on whether BN will involve the Pakatan Harapan (PH) machinery in the Mahkota by-election, he said that PH's involvement is very important because the composition and demographics of voters in Mahkota are different from Nenggiri.

"Moreover, we see that the number of voters in Mahkota is three times that of the Nenggiri seat.

"So, all our partners in the unity government must be involved," he said.

When asked if BN's victory in Nenggiri indicates that BN can go it alone in elections, Ahmad Zahid said that BN acknowledges the fact that they need good political partners like PH.

"... and we (BN) will certainly cooperate even though we contest under our own symbol.

"This understanding must be established so that the number of votes we obtain is due to the collaborative help for victory," he said.

-- BERNAMA