Pahang: UMNO requires a fresh approach to reclaim seats it lost, including the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat, according to its vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. He emphasized the changing political landscape, notably with the implementation of Undi 18, highlighting that UMNO can no longer adhere to traditional strategies.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wan Rosdy stated that the party is assessing necessary measures ahead of the next election. In Pahang, efforts have begun to actively engage with young people, including students and Pahang-born individuals residing outside the state. He underscored the importance of adopting new approaches to enhance public confidence in the current government.

During the Kepala Batas UMNO Division Delegates Meeting, Wan Rosdy called on local UMNO members to develop plans to recapture the parliamentary seat once held by the late Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from 1978 to 2013. The seat saw a shift in the 15th General Election (GE15) when Reezal Merican lost to Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Dr. Siti Mastura Muhammad by a margin of 2,867 votes.

Addressing PN’s claim of having a strategy to capture Pahang in the 16th General Election (GE16), Wan Rosdy dismissed it as an attempt to sway public perception. He asserted that the opposition lacks an understanding of Pahang’s actual situation and emphasized UMNO’s commitment to reclaiming seats won by PN. This response followed a statement from Bersatu Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah outlining PN’s strategy to defend its existing seats and target control of Pahang in the upcoming election.