adminKUALA LUMPUR: UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) have never taken a stance that the state elections (PRN) be postponed following current geopolitical developments, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The UMNO president said that the views on postponing the state election raised by certain parties were merely personal opinions and did not represent the party.
“That is not UMNO’s stance, that is not BN’s stance. That is someone’s personal opinion and there is no endorsement from the party.”
“So in that situation, don’t make a decision to postpone and this will become material for people to throw bullets back at us,” he said when delivering his keynote address at the 10th Better Nation Forum : The Impact of the US-Iran Conflict on Malaysia at the Menara Dato’ Onn Auditorium, here on Wednesday night.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also BN Chairman, said BN, especially UMNO as the backbone of the coalition, is always ready to face the state election at any time.
Previously, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan proposed that the Melaka and Johor state elections, which were supposed to be held this year, be postponed until the economic situation following the geopolitical crisis in West Asia returns to stability.
Ahmad, who is also Johor UMNO Deputy Chairman, presented his personal stance because he saw that the current geopolitical uncertainties were putting pressure on the cost of living that the people were still feeling, including the issue of fuel prices and essential goods.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said current political developments have also seen an increase in support for UMNO through the Rumah Bangsa initiative, with new online membership applications reaching 10,000 within 48 hours.
He said therefore, this development prompted a proposal for a direct membership mechanism at the BN level to be established in the near future and this matter has been agreed to by BN Secretary-General Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
“The success of Rumah Bangsa should also translate to BN because there are professionals, individuals and also leaders of non-governmental organisations who want to work together with BN.”
“We will propose in the BN Supreme Council that the clause in the BN Constitution which mentions applications to become direct members, i.e. direct membership , be implemented,” he said.
— BERNAMA
