BARISAN Nasional and UMNO have never adopted any position to postpone the Melaka and Johor state elections in light of current global geopolitical tensions, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
The UMNO president clarified that any suggestion to delay the polls was merely a personal view and did not reflect the party’s official stance.
“That is not UMNO’s stance. That is not BN’s stance. It is an individual’s personal view, and there is no endorsement from the party,” he said.
He cautioned against raising the idea of postponement, warning that such proposals could be politically counterproductive.
“So, in that situation, do not decide to postpone; that would only give others ammunition to turn against us,” he said during his keynote address at the 10th Better Nation Forum titled “The Impact of the US-Iran Conflict on Malaysia” held at Menara Dato’ Onn last night.
Zahid, who also serves as Barisan Nasional chairman, emphasised that both the coalition and UMNO, as its core component, are consistently prepared to contest elections whenever they are called.
His remarks were in response to a proposal by UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who had suggested that the Melaka and Johor state elections be postponed until economic conditions stabilise amid the West Asian geopolitical crisis.
The UMNO Johor deputy chairman had argued that ongoing global uncertainty was contributing to rising living costs, particularly fuel and essential goods.
Separately, Zahid said UMNO’s Rumah Bangsa initiative had significantly strengthened party support, citing an influx of 10,000 online membership applications within just 48 hours.
He said the development had encouraged discussions on introducing a direct membership mechanism at Barisan Nasional level, a proposal which, he noted, had already received agreement from BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
“The success of Rumah Bangsa must also be replicated in BN, because there are professionals, individuals, and NGO leaders eager to join,” he said.
“We will propose to the BN Supreme Council that the clause in the constitution regarding direct membership applications be implemented,” he added. - April 23, 2026
