POKOK SENA: Kedah Umno is optimistic about its prospects in the 16th General Election (GE16), saying every general election offers a fresh opening despite the party’s setbacks in 2018 and 2022.
Kedah Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the party had accepted those defeats as part of political life and acknowledged Pas‘ victory after decades in opposition.
However, he said every general election is different and offers all parties an open opportunity to win and form the government.
“We accepted those defeats, and once we accepted them, we reflected on what went wrong and are now ready to present our offer again to the people.
“Pas spent decades as the opposition. They waited a long time and eventually they struck. They won, and we are not arrogant enough to deny that.
“But when the next general election comes, we will put forward our offer as a political party, and the people can make their comparison,” he told reporters today.
Mahdzir was responding to remarks by Pas election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who had questioned Kedah Umno‘s confidence in regaining state seats if the party were to contest solo in GE16.
Sanusi had said comments by Alor Star Umno division chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah were not grounded in facts or past electoral records.
Meanwhile, Mahdzir said voters had already seen both Umno and Pas govern Kedah, and it was up to the people to decide the next government.
“What Sanusi wants to say is up to him. He is a politician, and I am also speaking as a politician. I don’t think it is wrong for us to say what we want and to make our offer.
“Any decision we make regarding the party is a consensus decision by the top leadership. In the context of Kedah, we can say that we are capable of contesting everywhere.
“The party president (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) has also said we can go solo, and if that is agreed upon, we can contest in all seats,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
