BN is using a third party to validate preliminary reports on the status of electoral constituencies, Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said the service of the independent validator was vital to ensure that the reports meant for the party leadership were accurate, in view of the coming general election.

"I'm not saying that the facts provided by Umno or BN are incorrect, but sometimes they are different, so we have to verify," he told a special news conference in conjunction with the Umno General Assembly 2011.

Muhyiddin said he had met other BN component party leaders and selected Umno divisions to get a picture of the situation in their respective constituencies.

In another development, he said BN was ready to face the next general election despite comments by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that it was too early to hold the country's 13th poll.

Don’t sabotage party

Muhyiddin said it was up to the opposition-led states to dissolve their state legislative assemblies when the Parliament was dissolved.

The BN, he said, was ready to face all eventualities.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin reminded Umno members and leaders to refrain from sabotaging candidates chosen for the election like what happened in the 2008 general election.

"So, when we say don't sabotage, it's not merely that, but also don't withdraw your support.

"Even more than that, we want them to work hard especially in a bid to defend our political power and remain as the government of the day," he added.

- Bernama