PORT DICKSON: All Barisan Nasional component parties, including MCA and MIC, will continue to be given opportunities to contest in the 16th General Election (GE16).
Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that this decision has been set by the coalition, including using its own symbol in the upcoming election, reported Sinar Harian.
"I mentioned that in GE16, we will continue to use the scales as BN's symbol.
"The parties within BN will continue to be given seats to contest. Although the election is still far off, that is the decision we have made," he said during a press conference after officiating the Port Dickson Umno division meeting here on Sunday (June 15).
Also present were Negri Sembilan Umno chairman, Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, and Port Dickson Umno division chief, Datuk Mohd Faizal Ramli.
He added that the contributions and sacrifices of MCA and MIC, in particular, should continue to be remembered as these parties were instrumental in Barisan’s existence during Umno's split in 1987.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, said it would be inappropriate for Barisan to abandon those parties when they are facing difficulties now.
"During Umno's split into two in 1987, when there were Teams A and B, our friends in BN, especially MCA and MIC, were instrumental in BN's existence.
"In GE14 and GE15, they faced issues as they could not retain their seats. Therefore, Umno must support our friends when they have problems, and this is the BN spirit that we must strengthen," he said.
Ahmad Zahid also expressed confidence that Barisan's current component partners will continue to strengthen the party.
When asked about the 'Himpunan Turun Anwar' expected to be held by PAS Youth on July 26, he said the opposition would continuously try to topple the government by any means.
"The current government will not fall just because of demonstrations.
"The opposition's attitude has always been like that. So, we should not worry about such attitudes (bringing down the government) and I think it's easy to criticise, but doing the work is hard,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid urged the component parties in the unity government to continue strengthening the existing unity, thus ensuring that the current government remains until GE16.
