KUALA LUMPUR: Bold new approaches, reforms and wooing Chinese voters are among the things Barisan Nasional needs to do for the next general election, say panels at Barisan Nasional’s 48th anniversary and convention.
Among Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s proposals are pre- and post-election coalition agreements.
Such agreements, she said, were important even with parties that are usually viewed as “enemies” or non-partners.
“If we want to win, we need to be ready to negotiate with parties that share a common ground.
“If we go to the elections thinking that we will only stick to the Barisan coalition, I don’t think we will be able to administer effectively,” she said yesterday.
The coalition, she added, also needed to have a fresh image to win over voters and should field new faces, a formula that proved successful in the Melaka and Johor state polls.
The Pengerang MP said although her proposals might be sensitive, Barisan must be open to new approaches.
Azalina also said that to secure a two-thirds majority or win 148 seats, the coalition must be prepared for reforms.
“Politics is all about numbers and we want 148 seats. If we go to the polls with Barisan in its present form, we may get maybe 90 or 100 (seats),” she added.
Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research trustee Soong Fui Kiun spoke on Chinese voters, saying that Barisan had to centre its campaign on education, healthcare, business and employment.
Many in the Chinese community, she said, wanted Malaysia to be competitive like neighbouring countries that were developing rapidly as a result of globalisation.
“With the Covid-19 pandemic, these themes will be more important. Barisan must take these issues seriously because regular people are really feeling the pain,” said Soong.
She said the Chinese community was looking for a new Malay leadership that could take the country forward.
“They are looking at a leadership that can make them more competitive,” she added.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said fielding new faces in the Melaka and Johor state elections had worked well for Barisan.
He pointed out that the coalition’s leadership fielded 87% new faces in Melaka, while in Johor 79% of candidates were new.
“In the Johor and Melaka elections, we managed to secure most of the votes in all the youth streams.
“Barisan’s top leaders were brave in fielding new faces in the state elections,” he added.
