KUALA LUMPUR: Umno and Barisan Nasional have never taken a position to postpone the Melaka and Johor state elections following current geopolitical developments, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
The Umno president said the suggestion of postponement raised by certain parties is merely a personal opinion and does not represent the party.
"That is not Umno's stance. That is not Barisan's stance. It is an individual's personal view, and there is no endorsement from the party.
"So in that situation, don't decide to postpone. That would only give others ammunition to turn against us," he said during his keynote address at the 10th Better Nation Forum, titled "The Impact of the US-Iran Conflict on Malaysia," at Menara Dato' Onn here on Wednesday (April 22) night.
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Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan chairman, said the coalition and Umno as its backbone in particular, is always ready to face state elections at any time.
He was responding to Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan’s earlier proposal to postpone the Melaka and Johor state elections, scheduled for this year, until the economic situation following the Middle East crisis stabilises.
The deputy Johor Umno chairman was of the view that ongoing geopolitical uncertainty continues to drive up the cost of living, including fuel and essential goods.
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Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said the Rumah Bangsa initiative has boosted Umno's support, with 10,000 new online membership applications in just 48 hours.
He said this development has prompted a proposal to establish a direct membership mechanism at Barisan level in the near future, which has been agreed upon by the coalition's secretary general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
"The success of Rumah Bangsa must also be replicated in Barisan, because there are professionals, individuals, and NGO leaders eager to join.
"We will propose to the Barisan supreme council that the clause in the constitution regarding direct membership applications be implemented," he said. – Bernama
