[UPDATED] GE15: BN confident of forming govt on its own if voter base turns up, says Tok Mat

KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional (BN) is confident of forming a federal government on its own as long as its voter base turns up in droves on polling day, said coalition election director Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said that this is a strategy similar to the ones adopted during the Melaka and Johor elections that delivered resounding victories to BN.

“So far, BN is in a better position compared to the 2018 general election. We feel comfortable with our standing so far, but we don’t want our election machinery to take it for granted.

“We have all the data and headcount. Now, our job is to get more voters to cast their ballots on polling day.

“If we can do that, I’m confident that BN will ‘cross the bridge’ (achieve a simple majority by winning 112 parliamentary seats). Insya Allah,” he said in a press conference at Umno headquarters here today.

“As BN election director, I’ve seen the data and just visited our war room, So, I’m confident that we can form a government on the night of polling day (November 19) or the following morning.”

He added that data has shown more than 50% support in many areas as the baseline was set at 45% as votes are usually divided into three coalitions.

He also took the opportunity to slam rival Perikatan Nasional (PN) linchpin Bersatu, saying the party is not free from sins after failing to keep the promises made in its 2018 election manifesto.

“The people will not forget that Bersatu ditched Pakatan Harapan (PH), and that the party also failed to keep its election promises.”

Bersatu was founded by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

It was part of PH, which won the 2018 general election, but the party left the coalition to form PN following the Sheraton Move in February 2020.

Muhyiddin was then appointed prime minister but resigned 17 months later. – The Vibes, November 14, 2022