BAGAN DATUK: Barisan Nasional 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 (Barisan) 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 Bernama this after performing the groundbreaking ceremony for the Simpang Tiga RPT Area Development Project (PPK) here yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said the winds of change have arrived in Kelantan following Barisan’s recapture of Nenggiri in last Saturday’s by-election.
“Without intending to be arrogant or boastful, we believe that while there are external elements claiming that Umno is no longer relevant, the results in Nenggiri showed otherwise.
“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 Barisan and Umno.
Commenting on whether Barisan will involve the Pakatan Harapan machinery in the Mahkota by-election, he said Pakatan’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 Barisan’s victory in Nenggiri indicates that Barisan can go it alone in elections, he said Barisan acknowledges the fact that they need good political partners like Pakatan.
“... and we (Barisan) 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 collaboration for victory,” Ahmad Zahid said.
