KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional is ready to face state elections in Melaka, Johor and Negri Sembilan, says coalition chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
However, he said it is too early to identify or reveal Umno candidates.
Ahmad Zahid was responding to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook's call for his party machinery to be on full alert for possible snap polls in the three states.
He spoke to reporters after the Unplugged Ansara with TPM event at the World Trade Centre here on Tuesday (May 5).
"All Barisan parties are prepared and most importantly, when the mandate is returned to the people, the people must choose the best combination. It is too early to identify candidates," he said.
Loke said his directive followed a failed attempt to topple the Unity Government in Negri Sembilan, which he said raised the likelihood of surprise state polls in several states.
On Negri Sembilan, Ahmad Zahid said Umno had never considered offering a candidate to replace Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
He said Umno at the national level had decided that the party's 14 state assemblymen in Negri Sembilan would remain part of the unity government in the state.
"We have no intention of becoming the opposition. Umno at the central level has decided that the 14 state assemblymen in Negri Sembilan will remain part of the unity government in the state," he said.
On May 2, Negri Sembilan Umno chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias reportedly said he was prepared to serve as the opposition if necessary rather than remain in the state government under Aminuddin.
On April 27, the 14 Negri Sembilan Barisan representatives withdrew their support for the state government led by Aminuddin.
