State polls: Umno making preparations, election machinery currently at 80%

KEPALA BATAS: Umno is preparing to face the state elections in six states, with its election machinery currently at 80%, says Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

The Umno election department chief said he had met with all six party state liaison committees and the readiness for state elections were at high levels.

The Kepala Batas Umno division chief said that Umno and Barisan Nasional’s compatibility with Pakatan Harapan was good.

"The compatibility between Barisan and Pakatan forms the core of the unity government, both at the federal and state levels, in Pahang, Perak and Melaka, and it will be translated through the upcoming state elections.

"We don’t want the central level to say one thing and the state another. So we want to make sure everything works together in the state elections as the voting patterns are now different,” he told reporters after presenting aid to 400 asnaf (Islamic tithe recipients), elderly and orphans here today (April 15).

Reezal Merican said the formula for the state elections would be the unity government’s coalition formula, adding that they all had high hopes to stick together, and this was proven in many things, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s willingness to conduct Isyak and Terawih prayers in Kepala Batas yesterday (April 13) even with his tight schedule.

"The Penang chief minister and deputy chief minister I also attend our programme, and it’s not a one-time thing. This is an early sign of our determination to form an administration based on the unity government.

"From there, we can see the collaboration developing in such a short time. In 100 to 120 days, till the elections are held, we will be in a state of readiness,” he added. - Bernama