Kuala lumpur: UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) have maintained their stance of not postponing the Melaka and Johor state elections, despite current geopolitical developments. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasized that the suggestion to delay the elections is not aligned with the party's position.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid clarified that the proposal for postponement, mentioned by some, is merely a personal opinion and does not reflect the official stance of either UMNO or BN. He underscored that such individual views lack the endorsement of the party, stating, "That is not UMNO's stance. That is not BN's stance. It is an individual's personal view, and there is no endorsement from the party."
He further cautioned against making decisions that could be used by opponents, during his keynote address at the 10th Better Nation Forum. The forum, held at Menara Dato' Onn, focused on "The Impact of the US-Iran Conflict on Malaysia."
Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the BN chairman, confirmed the coalition's readiness to proceed with the state elections at any given time. His remarks came in response to an earlier proposal by UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who suggested postponing the elections in light of the economic repercussions from the West Asian geopolitical crisis.
The UMNO Johor deputy chairman expressed concerns that ongoing geopolitical uncertainties could exacerbate the cost of living, impacting prices of fuel and essential goods. However, Ahmad Zahid dismissed these concerns as a reason to delay the elections.
In other developments, Ahmad Zahid highlighted the success of the Rumah Bangsa initiative, which has significantly increased UMNO's support base, with 10,000 new online membership applications recorded within 48 hours. This surge has led to discussions on establishing a direct membership mechanism at the BN level, as agreed by BN secretary general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
Ahmad Zahid proposed that the success of Rumah Bangsa be mirrored within BN, noting the interest from professionals, individuals, and NGO leaders to join. He stated, "We will propose to the BN Supreme Council that the clause in the constitution regarding direct membership applications be implemented."