Mahkota Polls: BN To Use Hybrid Approach With Unity Gov't Partners - Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) will adopt a hybrid approach by combining its party machinery with that of parties forming the Unity Government to face the Mahkota state by-election, said BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said this approach is necessary due to the demographic composition of the area, which has 66,000 voters from various ethnic groups and segments.

"Since about 35 per cent of the 66,000 voters in Mahkota are Chinese, we are engaging all parties within the Unity Government to mobilise the available machinery. 

"For this reason, we have allocated specific segments to DAP and others to MCA. Similarly, with approximately 8,000 Indian voters, we have tasked MIC with mobilising its machinery alongside the Indian leadership and members within PKR, effectively implementing a hybrid approach," he said after visiting the TVET Exploration @WTC programme at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.

He said this when asked about MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong’s statement urging BN to prioritise and favour its component parties in any decision-making.

The Election Commission has set Sept 28 as polling day for the by-election in Johor, while the nomination and early voting dates are Sept 14 and 24, respectively.

The by-election was called following the death of the incumbent assemblyman, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on Aug 2.

In the 2022 Johor state election, Sharifah Azizah, who was also the Kluang Wanita UMNO chief, won with a majority of 5,166 votes, defeating Pakatan Harapan candidate Muhammad Tagiuddin Cheman, Mohamad Nor Lingan (Perikatan Nasional) and Mohamed Noor Suleiman (Warisan).

Meanwhile, when asked whether UMNO is prepared to consider lifting the suspension of former UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Ahmad Zahid said the matter would be discussed at the Chairman's Committee Meeting and the Supreme Council Meeting.

In October 2022, Tajuddin was suspended from UMNO for six years due to his public criticism of the party.

-- BERNAMA