BN must be open to cooperate or accept 'anyone', Zahid says on GE15

KUALA LUMPUR - Barisan Nasional (BN) must be open to cooperate or accept "anyone", said Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as speculation on 15th general elections (GE15) becomes widespread.

He said it could take place as long as they accept BN's principles which are based on moderation and focused on defending the rakyat.

He further said this is also to ensure a stable and prosperous country.

“BN must be inclusive and more open. In order to ensure a stable country and prosper among the people, BN must be open to establish cooperation or accept anyone.

"As long as they accept BN's principles which are based on moderation and sincerity to defend the people and loyalty to all the stakes of the country," he said.

This is only one of the five steps put forward by Zahid in reinventing BN during his speech at the BN Convention at Dewan Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur World Trade Center (WTCKL) today.

Zahid added the second step was that BN must be prepared to come out of the old framework in terms of seat distribution formula in facing the GE15.

Zahid who is also the Member of Parliament for Bagan Datuk added that the third step was to feature more new, fresh faces to represent BN.

“We have proven that 87 per cent of new faces in Melaka and 79 per cent in Johor have captured the voters and attracted them to support BN.

"Based on the record in the recent Melaka and Johor state elections (PRN), the new faces of BN contested and won at these areas including the new voters aged 18 to 25," he explained.

He added that the fourth step was to offer an agenda of reform and improvement to strengthen governance, and transparency in administration.

According to him, the matter includes ensuring the institution is the bastion of the rule of law and no longer tainted with the agenda to kill political enemies.

"As it happened in the Pakatan Harapan (PH)'s era, such as exploiting the attorney general's institution and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) up to the point where even the appointment of the MACC Chief Commissioner is also from among the political leaders," he said.

The Umno president said the fifth step was to get the Malaysian economy back on track to becoming a high-income developed country.

"With the aim of making the country a major investment destination in the Southeast Asian region, equitable economic distribution, intensifying various assistance to the people based on 'need-based' rather than 'race-based' orientation, sustainable economic management, more transparent and guided by good governance, good for reviving growth, "he said.

Zahid said the revamped BN would never harm the basic formula of the coalition which was based on the Federal Constitution, the principles of moderation, tolerance and integration as well as high moral and ethical values.

Meanwhile, commenting on the election date, Zahid said he would discuss the matter with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

"The Prime Minister said he will discuss with the top five," he said, adding that BN was ready and prepared to face GE15.