SEREMBAN: All allies in the national unity government should do their best to win big in the coming six state elections, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Barisan Nasional election director said this responsibility could not be shouldered by a single party.
“It is not only Umno that has to win big. Every party in the unity government will have to win big and only then will we be able to form the government in these states,” he said.
Mohamad was asked to comment on remarks by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke during a roundtable session at Parliament organised by Bersih on Wednesday.
Loke said if Umno wins more seats, it will also strengthen the current unity government at the federal level.
“At this point in time, I hope Umno can win bigger because if they become stronger, this government will also become stronger and better,” he said.
“We have also decided not to contest against each other because if we do that and still work together in the Federal Government, it is a recipe for disaster.”
To support his point, Loke gave an example of the previous cooperation between Barisan and Perikatan Nasional – although both were in the same Federal Government, they contested against one another in the Melaka and Johor state elections.
Elections are due in Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu in the third quarter of this year.
Pakatan Harapan controls Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Penang while the other three states are under Perikatan.