Zahid urges BN to close ranks as GE16 ‘just around the corner’

 The Barisan Nasional chairman says coalition members must remain united if it hopes to gain a stronger mandate.

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition must continue to embrace renewal while drawing on its experience to remain relevant in an increasingly complex political landscape.

PETALING JAYA:

Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has warned members the coalition faces its biggest battle yet, with a general election “just around the corner”.

On BN’s 52nd anniversary today, Zahid urged coalition members to remain united if it hopes to gain a stronger mandate.

“Believe me, the journey ahead will not always be easy. We will face many battles, leading up to the biggest battle – the general election, which is just around the corner,” he said in a Facebook post.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said he might consider snap polls if tensions within the unity government worsened, although the general election is only due by February 2028, while the ongoing Iran conflict is also expected to weigh on Malaysia’s economic outlook.

Zahid described BN as a political coalition founded on the spirit of understanding, moderation, and cooperation among Malaysians of different races and backgrounds.

He said the coalition had gone through various phases over the past five decades, from leading the country through growth and development to facing setbacks that tested its resilience.

Zahid said BN must continue embracing renewal while drawing on its experience to remain relevant in an increasingly complex political landscape.

He also said voters today wanted mature politics, responsible leadership, and practical solutions to contemporary challenges, requiring BN to adapt to changing expectations and future demands. - FMT