KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ended his election campaign with a plea to Malaysians to make a responsible choice during polling day tomorrow.
Ahmad Zahid pledged to voters that there would be progressive reforms within the party and government if BN was given the mandate by the people in the 15th general election.
“We promise to open the position of deputy prime minister to Sabahans and Sarawakians. This shows the seriousness of BN in dignifying the regions in West Malaysia,” he said in a press conference.
The Umno president added that BN is also committed to the need to revive the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Ahmad Zahid also reiterated that only BN could produce stability.
“The stability is important to draw back foreign investors and the confidence of Malaysians that the country has a better future,” he said.
He said that the party is also strong due to its principle where no leader is greater than the party or the people.
“With this principle, BN is able to remain strong despite facing various political obstacles,” he added.
He also said that most in BN are not elites and come from various backgrounds and could easily be approached by the people.
Ahmad Zahid’s final plea to woo the voters appears to be a desperate sign for support as think tank and research centres predict BN could finish in the second or third spot in GE15 with some claiming the coalition will only be able to secure as low as 15 seats.
Merdeka Center for Opinion Research’s latest projections puts the Umno-led coalition at just 15 seats it could safely secure in tomorrow’s general election.
The research outfit saw Perikatan Nasional (PN) coming in second at 43 seats, half of Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) projected outcome at 82 seats.
In East Malaysia, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition could bag 24 seats, while Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) would win just five seats or one less than Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s Parti Warisan.
The pollster had put 26 seats as too close to call.
Meanwhile, Ilham Centre predicted that PH would again be projected to win the most seats in GE15 with a plurality of 86 seats, which is below the threshold to form the next government.
The think tank saw BN coming in second with 51 seats, just over double that of PN 25.
In East Malaysia, the GPS coalition could bag 18 seats, while GRS would win just six seats in a tie with the rival Parti Warisan, the party led by Shafie.
The Bumiputera-based Gerakan Tanah Air and the fledgling Parti Bangsa Malaysia are expected to win only a seat each.
Similarly, the centre had also put 26 seats as too close to call.
