Nazri: Barisan should rebrand itself

Coalition’s sec-gen agrees with Zahid on need to create new political dynamics

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who is Barisan Nasional’s new secretary-general, says the coalition should change its name and rebrand itself to create new political dynamics.

“We need to be brave and courageous – just like what Tun Abdul Razak did after the 1969 general election.

“The Alliance Party was renamed and rebranded as Barisan Nasional. It was well-received,” he said over the phone yesterday.

The former tourism minister was responding to Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s proposal to change its name and rebrand the coalition, in a bid to win the next general election.

“I agree with him,” Nazri said. The Padang Rengas MP said that the need came in view of the new political landscape and development in Sabah and Sarawak.

“Umno in Sabah is no longer in the ruling government. It has also joined Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS). Barisan does not exist in Sabah anymore,” he said.

“Similar to Sabah, there is also no more Barisan in Sarawak,” he said.

“Just like Pakatan Harapan; it was previously Pakatan Rakyat. We should sit down and discuss, to create new political dynamics,” he said.

“We will start engaging with other component parties in Barisan, followed by other parties,” he said, commenting on his plan as the new secretary-general of the party.

Barisan shrank from 13 parties to five after GE14 with Umno, MCA, MIC, myPPP and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah.

It was reported earlier that Sabah Barisan was forming GBS, in anticipation of a High Court decision on Tan Sri Musa Aman’s petition that he was the rightful chief minister.

Representatives from the component parties, comprising Sabah Umno, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR Sabah) as well as independent candidates came together on Wednesday to announce the new alliance that has yet to be registered.

In June, all four Sarawak Barisan component parties – PBB, SUPP, PRS and PDP – left the coalition.

We need to be brave and courageous – just like what Tun Abdul Razak did after the 1969 general election. Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz