“We must be able to win the hearts and mind of the people. The voice and the views of the people must be heard, including through the Transformasi Nasional (TN50) dialogues and ensure that the work and plans drawn up are for the benefit of the people and not just to satisfy ourselves”
BAGAN DATUK: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has outlined five principles for the Jalinan Rakyat (JR) and Jalinan Rakyat Plus (JR Plus) election machineries to ensure that Barisan Nasional garners the bigger majority in votes in the next general election.
“We must adopt these principles to ensure that the efforts by the JR and JR Plus machinery will see a better outcome in the next general elections.
“Firstly, the component parties must practise teamwork and work in unity.
“Secondly, we must be able to understand the real struggles of BN and that we need not use the politics of hate spread by the opposition.
“Thirdly, we must be able to win the hearts and mind of the people. The voice and the views of the people must be heard, including through the Transformasi Nasional (TN50) dialogues and ensure that the work and plans drawn up are for the benefit of the people and not just to satisfy ourselves,” he added.
The fourth principle, he said, was to address any accusations spread by the opposition including news through alternative media.
“We cannot depend solely on conventional methods including face-to-face interaction,” he said.
Zahid noted that slander is the most dangerous strategy and fake news will spread rapidly among the community if steps are not taken to resolve it.
He said leaders must go down to the ground to address accusations against BN.
Zahid, who is also Umno vice-president, was speaking at the launch of the Bagan Datuk JR Plus on Sunday. Also present was Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
He took the opportunity to remind the people that the BN coalition has a proven track record in safeguarding the well-being of the people and that the opposition, which had tried to emulate its formula, has not been successful.
At the same time, he also threw a challenge to the leaders in the constituency to gain a five-fold majority in the upcoming general elections and regain the Hutan Melintang state seat.
In the last general elections, Zahid retained the Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat with a majority of 2,108, defeating PKR candidate Madhi Hasan.
The Hutan Melintang state seat was won by S. Kesavan from PKR with majority of 1,250 votes, defeating three other candidates.
Source: NST Online
