Zahid says BN open to earlier GE16, but ready to serve full term

BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has affirmed the coalition’s commitment to holding the 16th general election earlier, saying this would allow the government to seek a fresh mandate from voters.

However, the Umno president said BN was also prepared if the current parliamentary term ran its full course.

“But if this (parliamentary) term lasts until the end of its full tenure, or until its term expires, we are also prepared to face it,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying.

Zahid said the coalition could use the period before GE16 to reinforce its relevance by addressing issues of public interest.

His remarks come after Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said urged the federal government, in which BN and Pakatan Harapan are partners, to use the remainder of the parliamentary term to deliver on election pledges rather than focus on political differences at the state level.

Azalina’s comments followed BN’s decision to contest the Johor state election independently of Harapan, before the coalition subsequently forged a pact with federal opposition Perikatan Nasional in Negeri Sembilan.

BN’s victories in the recent state elections have fuelled speculation that the coalition could push for a snap general election.

PKR’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim has also warned that his party risks being “shocked to death” by defeat if an early GE16 is called.

READ MORE: BN-PN ‘Malay unity’ wave coming, and Harapan is in danger

Weighing allies state by state

Asked whether Harapan or PN would make a better ally for BN, Zahid remained non-committal, saying the coalition would assess the political circumstances in each state.

“We weighed the benefits against the drawbacks and made political calculations based on the balance in each state,” he said.

He said BN decided to go solo in Johor because of the state’s political landscape, while coalition leaders in Negeri Sembilan believed a better outcome could be achieved through cooperation with another bloc.

Asked whether grassroots views had influenced decisions on political cooperation, Zahid said members were keen to see greater Malay unity.

“Therefore, we are making this a priority as we take steps (to pursue cooperation across political coalitions) to shape the future of our politics.

“However, we must also acknowledge that the reality of our country’s diversity must serve as the foundation as we navigate an increasingly complex political landscape in the decades ahead,” he added.

Following the Negeri Sembilan election, where BN and PN secured a two-thirds majority in the state legislature, Zahid indicated that BN was open to negotiating seat allocations with other parties for the upcoming Malacca state election.

READ MORE: PN chair hints at Malacca polls in 2 months, Hadi says seat talks with BN ongoing

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