Barisan Nasional (BN) is capable of wresting back 20 opposition-held seats to help secure two-thirds majority in the coming 13th general election, says Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan.

He is confident that BN can retain the 140 parliamentary seats it won and capture five of 23 seats held by PAS, five of 29 held by DAP and 10 of the 31 PKR seats.

He said the confidence was based on various factors including the problems faced by the opposition in several seats that it had won.

"It's logical because, for example, seven of the PKR seats are already problematic for the opposition as six as the incumbents left the party to become independents while it lost the Hulu Selangor seat."

He said this after attending the opening of a professionalism-enhancing retreat of the Information Welfare and Recreation Club by Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam in Malacca today.

Ahmad, who is also deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was also an important factor in ensuring victory for BN.

- Bernama