The Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery especially Umno must work hard to retain parliamentary and state seats and regain seats at the next general election.     

Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party machinery which embraces the aspirations of BN should plan and implement effective strategies.     

He said the bitter events of 2008 general election where BN lost several states to the opposition was a dark chapter in the party's history and should not recur.     

"There are lessons to be learned from the mistakes so that we become more cautious in future," he said when closing Bagan Datoh Umno division 1Malaysia Colloquium in Pangkor today.

BN supporters and election machinery should strive to win more than two-thirds majority to facilitate the formation of federal government and state governments.     

- Bernama