‘BN CAN WIN TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY’
‘New friend’ will help party regain strength in GE14, says Zahid
ROSLI ZAKARIA KUALA TERENGGANU news@nst.com.my
BARISAN Nasional is expected to gain renewed strength from a “new friend” that can help it regain the two-thirds majority in Parliament in the 14th General Election, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday.
Without naming this “new friend”, he said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was working hard and was committed to translating the cooperation with wisdom and understanding.
“They may have been our enemy in the past but in politics, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies. If we can strengthen the relationship (with the new friend), there should be no reason for us to fail in the general election.
“We will not only boost our strength in Terengganu but in other states as well, and we will not only get back the two-thirds majority in Parliament but also ensure continuity (of BN’s rule),” he said when opening the Terengganu State-Level Umno Branches Cluster Meeting.
Zahid, who is also Umno vicepresident, said the Malays still needed Umno. He said this was indicated by the fact that 4.1 million of 5.5 million Malay voters (78.7 per cent) supported Barisan Nasional.
“The Malays still love Umno and Umno will continue to serve them. However, there are quarters that are out to divide the Malays.
“We will lose some friends, but we will gain new friends,” he said, while hinting that the government would table the bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355 or RUU355, during the current Parliament session.
“The prime minister is committed to translating this to gain renewed strength through the support of a new friend,” he said.
He said all Umno members must be ready for the next general election and not wait for the prime minister to announce the dissolution of Parliament.
“We have a lot of energy but we do not want to exhaust it before the finish line. As such, I hope all Umno members will work hard to defend the party (BN) at the federal level and regain lost seats at the state level.
“Approaches adopted by the party machinery must have zero defects. Stop bickering, although I know there are problems in the divisions. Problems exist, but we have to be focused on winning the general election.
“We can have different views, but we need to mind our manners.
“We have had close calls in the 12th and 13th General Elections. We nearly failed not because the opposition was strong, but because we were weakened by conflict.
“Leaders must not take things for granted. You have to listen to the voices from the grassroots. You must not respond to problems raised only when Parliament is dissolved. It will be a bit too late to show that you care, and don’t complain if you are not chosen by the people,” he added.
On the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged halfbrother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Zahid, who is also home minister, praised the quick action by the police in apprehending the suspects within 24 hours.
He said Malaysia would take care of North Koreans banned from leaving the country as long as Pyongyang continued to look after the nine Malaysians in North Korea.
“The situation is unprecedented in our country. We have to be firm and careful in all our actions. While negotiations are ongoing , I have to be careful with my words. I would like to urge the people to be united at this time.”