Turn your support into 56 BN victories, Zahid urges PAS

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has welcomed PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s call for PAS members and supporters to vote for Umno or BN candidates in Johor state seats where Perikatan Nasional (PN) is not contesting.

He expressed hope that Tuan Ibrahim’s encouragement would result in BN victories in all the 56 seats the party is contesting in the Johor election. “We appreciate the support. I hope those words are backed by action and not merely empty promises,” he said in Batu Pahat today.

Speaking at the launch of BN’s election machinery for the Parit Yaani and Parit Raja state constituencies, Zahid said Johor must remain a BN stronghold and continue to serve as the coalition’s political “fixed deposit”.

A BN victory in Johor would mark the beginning of a tangible resurgence of Umno and BN, while reaffirming the strength of the party, which is now 80 years old.

“A victory for BN candidates is crucial to realising that aspiration, and it requires a high level of commitment from the entire party machinery,” he said. The momentum to restore BN’s influence must be driven comprehensively across the state.

Earlier today, Tuan Ibrahim said his call was for the sake of the ummah’s unity, adding that PN is the platform for achieving that goal. “This is what we have emphasised (with PAS members). Do not vote for Pakatan Harapan,” he said.

Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz later urged PN not to call on its supporters to vote for BN in seats not contested by PN, as doing so would amount to backing the PH-BN federal alliance.

He said a “vote for BN is the same as a vote for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, DAP and PH”, as Zahid had made it clear that if BN is given the mandate in the Johor polls, its position will be aligned with that of the PH-BN federal unity government.

BN and PH are both contesting all 56 seats in the Johor state assembly, with BN saying it will contest without any electoral pact or plans to form a state government with others.

PN candidates are contesting 33 seats through PAS (11 seats), Bersatu (16), the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (5) and Pejuang (1). PN members Parti Wawasan Negara and Gerakan are not contesting.

Others in the contest are Muda (4 seats), Parti Socialis Malaysia (1), Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (1) and six independents.

Polling takes place on July 11, with early voting set for July 7.