Kuala Lumpur: Barisan Nasional (BN) must respond to any viral issue on social media, especially negative perceptions about the coalition, within three hours, said its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, emphasized the necessity of addressing unfavourable perceptions swiftly to prevent them from taking root and affecting public opinion negatively.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid expressed concerns that past election losses in 2018 and 2022 were due to the coalition’s failure to counter negative perceptions in a timely manner. He stressed the importance of leveraging social media as a primary platform, noting that previously, responses were delayed by days, allowing perceptions to solidify, even if they were inaccurate.
Speaking at the fourth Better Nation BN Forum titled ‘What We Can Learn From the General Elections in Canada, Singapore, Australia’, Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as UMNO president, called for a modern and dynamic political machinery within BN. He highlighted the necessity for the coalition to be adept at using data and maintaining two-way communication.
Furthermore, Ahmad Zahid urged BN to adopt a politics of hope, emphasizing the need for stability and appropriate policies as the coalition prepares for the upcoming 16th General Election (GE16). He advocated for intellectual politics, which he believes will resonate with an increasingly informed public demanding politics with substance. He argued that restoring trust, not just increasing votes, is crucial for the party’s success and requires a model of post-polarisation politics.
Ahmad Zahid also suggested that BN should learn from the electoral strategies of Canada, Singapore, and Australia, where governing parties successfully navigated challenges by adopting innovative approaches and utilizing social media for communication.
He concluded by stressing the importance of building a new narrative that addresses public concerns, particularly around issues like rising prices, housing, employment, and the future of their children. Prioritizing the people’s well-being, he said, should be more than rhetoric and should be translated into actionable agendas over the next five years.